We haven't made it to the 49ers' 2023 NFL season opener yet, but there already are early implications for San Francisco's Week 2 clash with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams placed star wide receiver Cooper Kupp on injured reserve with a lingering hamstring injury, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday, citing a source. Kupp will miss Los Angeles' first game of the season against the Seattle Seahawks, along with three more after, Rapoport added.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Kupp already was ruled out of Sunday's season opener, and Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters earlier this week that Kupp landing on IR was a "definite" possibility.
He now will miss matchups against the 49ers, a Super Bowl LVI rematch with the Cincinnati Bengals and a Week 4 meeting with the Indianapolis Colts.
The 30-year-old was first injured in a training camp practice on Aug. 1, leaving the field 30 minutes into the workout. He originally was expected to be out for one-to-two weeks, but ended up missing all three of the Rams' preseason games.
Kupp won the receiving triple crown in 2021, leading the NFL with 145 catches, 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, and won NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He was limited to nine games in 2022 with a high ankle sprain.
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco opens its season on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers before traveling to Los Angeles to face its SoCal rival. And it looks like the Rams will have to make some offensive adjustments before coming face-to-face with the 49ers' dominant defense.