Super Bowl 56 is inching closer, and while the nation prepares for one of the more unlikely and unforeseen matchups in recent NFL history, the two teams actually competing for the Lombardi Trophy are taking every step imaginable to be in their best position to win in just over a week.

The Rams have been surging on both sides of the ball, but when they released their injury report on Friday, two names caught the eyes of just about everyone with a rooting interest in Super Bowl 56.

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey did not practice because of a shoulder injury, and left tackle Andrew Whitworth was out with a quadriceps injury. The Rams had to give an injury designation as if they were playing this week, and they listed both as questionable.

Offensive lineman Joe Noteboom (chest), running back Cam Akers (shoulder), tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) and defensive back Grant Haley (quadriceps) remained out of practice.

Receiver Van Jefferson (knee) was out of practice Friday after being estimated as limited on the other two practice reports of the week.

Safety Taylor Rapp (concussion) was a full participant and good to go for Super Bowl 56.

Based on the team’s status report, Noteboom and Higbee are the furthest away from returning. The Rams listed both as doubtful to play if the game was this Sunday.

While there is plenty of time for players to heal, it’s alarming to see two of the core anchors on both sides of the ball for Los Angeles battling injury.

SoFi Stadium redecorated for Super Bowl LVI

Not only was SoFi Stadium the home for the NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, it will also host the Super Bowl this year, the first time this has happened in NFL history — which means the Rams are the first team to host a conference championship game and league championship game in their home stadium.

The first time a team hosted a Super Bowl came last season when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took down the Kansas City Chiefs to claim their first Super Bowl win since 2003.

Here is the sharp new designs that were rolled out for the Big Game.

#RamsHouse lookin' real pretty. 😍 pic.twitter.com/LhF0zVPQUb

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 3, 2022

In 1980, the Rams had made it to the championship that was hosted in Los Angeles, but played Super Bowl XIV at the Rose Bowl instead of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This was before they made the move to St. Louis in 1995.

Ironically, the Rams are the ‘away’ team for Super Bowl despite playing on their home field and having the better record. Both teams, however, are four seeds. Despite this, it is the AFC’s turn to be the designated home Super Bowl team even before the playoffs had started. The Bengals will wear black while the Rams will be draped in white.

Los Angeles went 5-3 at home during the regular season, actually sporting a better record on the road. However, two of their playoff wins against the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card round and the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game came at SoFi Stadium.

Like the rest of the playoffs, this Super Bowl feels wildly unpredictable.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals have not yet played in the new stadium, despite playing to Los Angeles Chargers twice. Both of those games were played in Cincinnati. The Super Bowl will be the first time for the franchise inside SoFi Stadium.

Los Angeles went all-in on winning with the 2021-22 team. They added Matthew Stafford and Von Miller, and as a result, they have no first-round draft picks until 2024. After taking down the 49ers and winning “a trip” to SoFi for Super Bowl 56, it all seems well worth it for the new Super Bowl favorites.

Heading into Wildcard Weekend three weeks ago, the Rams had the sixth-best odds to win it all. The Bengals had the ninth-best odds. As of this writing, the Rams are 4.5-point championship favorites.

Now the two teams meet in Super Bowl 56. It should be one hell of an ending to an incredible NFL postseason.

All odds show BetMGM Odds/DraftKings Odds at the time of publishing, via VegasInsider.com