Los Angeles Rams Wide Receiver Could Miss Week 1

The Los Angeles Rams released their first injury report of the season Monday, and it was mostly good news. The team only listed a single player: wide receiver Van Jefferson.

First injury report of 2022: pic.twitter.com/nFpxlKEGE1
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) September 6, 2022

Jefferson is recovering from a pair of offseason knee surgeries that cost him the bulk of training camp and the preseason. Though head coach Sean McVay has expressed optimism about Jefferson's progress, the fact that he hasn't practiced since his most recent procedure indicates he isn't likely to see the field any time soon. He was in line to be the team's third wide receiver behind All-Pro Cooper Kupp and offseason signing Allen Robinson.

Photo Credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Jefferson is coming off a strong season for the Super Bowl Champions, having finished second on the team in receiving yards and touchdowns behind only Kupp during the 2021 NFL season. Entering his third year, the former 57th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft is an ascendant talent in the league. So long as Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford's troublesome elbow cooperates, Jefferson should find himself playing a key role on a premier offense once his recovery is complete.

The Rams play the Buffalo Bills to open the 2022 season in this Thursday's NFL Kickoff game on NBC.