In a recent development, the Los Angeles Rams have been forced to place guard Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III on injured reserve due to shoulder injuries. Coach Sean McVay had previously mentioned that this move was a possibility. However, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who has been dealing with a left ankle sprain, managed to avoid being placed on injured reserve, despite being expected to miss a significant amount of time.

Coach McVay expressed concern over the limited number of injured reserve/designated for return spots available to the team, especially considering that it is only Week 3 of the regular season. NFL teams have the option to designate up to eight players to return from injured reserve throughout the season, and the Rams find themselves running out of these valuable spots already.

During their Week 2 game against the Arizona Cardinals, Jonah Jackson aggravated his shoulder injury, which had previously caused him to miss some training camp sessions. On the other hand, John Johnson III revealed on his podcast that he has suffered a fracture in his scapula and will be sidelined for four to six weeks. Coach McVay emphasized the significant impact of Johnson's absence, highlighting his communication skills, command, and playmaking ability.

Unfortunately for the Rams, the injured reserve list continues to grow in the offensive line. Alongside Jackson, the team currently has three other offensive linemen on injured reserve - Steve Avila with an MCL sprain, Joe Noteboom with a high ankle sprain, and Conor McDermott with an undisclosed injury. However, the team will see the return of tackle Alaric Jackson from suspension this week, after he missed the first two games of the season due to a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy.

In addition to the offensive line injuries, the Rams are also missing wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is on injured reserve after spraining his posterior cruciate ligament in Week 1. The absence of these key players poses a significant challenge for the Rams as they navigate through the remainder of the season.

As for Cooper Kupp, who was the NFL's leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in 2021, he managed to escape being placed on injured reserve for now. Although he is expected to miss an extended period of time due to his left ankle sprain, the Rams are hopeful that he can return to the field sooner rather than later.

The team will need to rely on young players to step up in the absence of key contributors, while keeping a close eye on the growing list of injured players. It remains to be seen how the Rams will adjust their strategy and maintain their performance in the face of these challenges.