Another week, another game in which the Chicago Bears will miss an opposing team’s star player.
The Los Angeles Rams will be without stud wide receiver Cooper Kupp this week:
You know an injury is serious when a head coach like Sean McVay rules a player out on a Monday. At least fantasy football players will have ample time to examine their options before the waiver wire opens up.
No Cooper Kupp for the Rams this week
When healthy, Cooper Kupp is one of the NFL’s best receivers. He was a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro in 2021 when he led the NFL in catches (145), receiving yards (1,947), and touchdown catches (16) en route to earning the Offensive Player of the Year award from the Associated Press and finishing third in MVP voting. Unfortunately, injuries have been a problem for Kupp in each of the last three seasons.
The 31-year-old put together a 14-catch, 110-yard, 1-touchdown showing in the regular-season opener against the Detroit Lions and it looked like fans were going to be treated to another vintage season from Kupp. But an ankle injury in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals kept him out of the team’s Week 3 win against the San Franciso 49ers. And now, it will leave him on the bench for a second consecutive game. I imagine Bears defensive backs are glad there is one less weapon to worry about covering.
This is the second consecutive week in which the Bears have dodged a bullet in the form of an opposing team’s star player missing their game against Chicago because of an injury. Last week, it was Indianapolis Colts stud defensive tackle DeForest Buckner sitting out while on injured reserve. Unfortunately, it did not matter one bit that Indy was without its game-wrecking defensive lineman because the Bears failed at taking advantage of the situation as seemingly every attempted run was turned back by whichever healthy defenders the Colts had available. It was as maddening to watch as it was disappointing. What a combo.
In other words, don’t think that the Rams being without Cooper Kupp (and Puka Nacua) is going to automatically shift the tide in the Bears’ favor. We just watched Sean McVay coach a 36-year-old Matthew Stafford and a bunch of role players to an upset victory against a loaded San Francisco 49ers team. So, in the end, the Bears defense better be ready for whatever McVay and the Rams throw their way. Because if they don’t, it could be a long day at Soldier Field.