Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua’s return sparks Rams’ upset of Vikings
During the offseason, Cooper Kupp co-founded a coffee company.
And when the veteran Rams receiver returned to the lineup Thursday night after a four-game absence, the recently moribund offense anticipated a welcome jolt.
What it got was an unexpected double shot.
Receiver Puka Nacua also returned to the lineup and the two stars helped the Rams defeat the Minnesota Vikings, 30-20, before 72,127 at SoFi Stadium.
“There’s an energy,” coach Sean McVay said of his team’s attitude when the two receivers are on the field. “There’s a spark.”
Kupp caught a touchdown pass and Nacua amassed 106 yards receiving as the Rams won their second game in a row and improved to 3-4.
“It was great,” Kupp said. “So much fun.”
Said Nacua: “Super fun, man.”
Matthew Stafford tossed two touchdown passes to receiver Demarcus Robinson, one to Kupp and one to running back Kyren Williams, and rookie edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young sparked the defense as the Rams followed last Sunday’s victory over the Las Vegas Raiders by handing the Vikings (5-2) their second consecutive defeat.
Kupp’s and Nacua’s performances buoyed a team that last Sunday defeated the Raiders 20-15 and gave players confidence they could repeat last season’s turnaround that ended in the playoffs.
But that probably could not happen without Kupp and Nacua — as well as several other projected starters still on injured reserve.
Kupp, who had been sidelined because of an ankle injury, caught five passes for 51 yards and drew several pass-interference penalties. Nacua, activated Thursday after spending five games on IR because of a knee injury, caught seven passes.
“That’s what you envisioned when training camp started,” Stafford said of having his top two receivers, adding, “I was so happy and proud for those guys to be back. ... Everybody feels that when those guys are back in.”
Check out the game summary from the Rams’ win Thursday.
The question now is whether the Rams will ponder trading Kupp with an NFC West game against the Seattle Seahawks coming up on Nov. 3 — two days before the trade deadline.
Kupp, the 2021 offensive player of the year, spent the early part of the week answering questions about speculation that the Rams might move on because of their poor start and Kupp’s huge contract.
“It did give me the opportunity to just focus on being where my feet are, being able to prepare as best I can and come out here and let it rip,” Kupp said after the game.
Will his performance ramp up the speculation or quell it?
“I have no idea what’s going to happen,” he said. “I’m going to come in [Friday], get some treatment and then get ready to start preparing for Seattle.”
McVay acknowledged after the game that other teams reached out regarding Kupp, and that they have discussed “the dialogue” with the eighth-year pro.
McVay also was asked if Kupp’s performance makes the Rams apt to entertain trade offers or shut them down.
“I’m really glad to have Cooper Kupp back with us,” McVay said, “and that’s what I expect to stay that way.”
While Kupp’s return was expected, Nacua’s was something of a surprise. The second-year pro had been on IR because of a training-camp knee injury he aggravated in the season-opening defeat to the Detroit Lions. Nacua did not practice last week, and the Rams opened his 21-day window to return Monday. He was listed as limited after jog-throughs Tuesday and Wednesday.
McVay said he asked Nacua if he wanted to “give it a shot” and Nacua said yes. McVay said Nacua looked good in a workout.
“And once you tease me,” McVay quipped, “you’re going.”
About four hours before kickoff, the Rams announced Nacua had been activated to the roster. He was not on the list of inactive players that was released 90 minutes before the game, but it still was unclear how much, if at all, Nacua might play.
Nacua started and, after dropping a pass on the first play, went on to look like the player who established NFL rookie receiving records last year. He said he had missed participating in padded practice.
“But that’s also the most exciting part of the game for me,” he said. “So, man, I was really excited to go out there and hit somebody.”
Stafford, who entered the game with only three touchdown passes, completed 25 of 34 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns with an interception.
The score was tied 14-14 at halftime, but Stafford’s two touchdown passes to Robinson and Byron Young’s late sack of Sam Darnold for a safety proved the difference.
Kupp and Nacua demand attention and double teams that create opportunities for others, Robinson said.
“Everybody felt it out there,” Robinson said of their return to the field. “It was huge energy that uplifted the team and got a lot of us going.”
On defense as well.
“When you get those big dogs back — I ain’t going to lie, there’s nothing like it,” said rookie edge rusher Jared Verse, who had 1½ sacks. “Watching them on TV is one thing. … You watch them in person: Oh my God. The plays they’re making and stuff — like that’s insane. It hypes us up.”
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McVay, who surpassed John Robinson to become the Rams’ all-time leader with 80 wins, said that with two victories in a row the Rams have done “a good job of getting back to where we wanted to be.”
The return of Kupp and Nacua started what could become a series if players such as offensive linemen Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson and Joe Noteboom come back from injuries in the coming weeks.
“It’s great to be able to get some of the cavalry back,” McVay said.
After playing twice in five days, the Rams have the weekend off before preparing for the Seahawks. Nacua said his knee felt great.
“Maybe I’m still on the game high,” he said. “But I’m ready to go lay down, for sure.”
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