Rams place star wide receiver Cooper Kupp on COVID-19 list

Cooper Kupp has been placed on the COVID-19 list as the Rams’ bad luck continues.

While the Los Angeles Rams can still make it to the postseason, a loss against the Arizona Cardinals and a win by the Chicago Bears would knock them out of the playoffs just weeks after they were anointed as contenders.

As if Sean McVay didn’t have enough trouble trying to get John Wolford prepped to start after Jared Goff’s thumb surgery, he just found out he might not have his No. 1 wide receiver.

The Rams placed Kupp, in the middle of an excellent season as LA’s No.1. target, on the COVID-19 lost, putting his status for Week 17 and, potentially, their hypothetical first-round playoff matchup, in doubt.

Cooper Kupp is Goff’s preferred target on short passes

While Robert Woods has found the end zone more frequently than Kupp, the record-setting Eastern Washington alum is leading the Rams in catches with 92 and receiving yards with 974. Fresh off a three-year contract extension, Kupp is rewarding Los Angeles’s trust in him.

Considering Wolford’s complete lack of experience and Goff’s struggles when he holds onto the ball for a long period of time, Kupp figured to be a major factor in their Week 17 gameplan against Arizona.

In LA’s base offense, look for Woods, Josh Reynolds, and second-round rookie Van Jefferson to start if Kupp isn’t removed from the list in time for Sunday.

With their starting quarterback in Goff on the mend and their top receiver in Kupp out for an indeterminate amount of time, Brandon Staley’s defense might not be enough to help the Rams make a deep run in the postseason.