Rams receiver Cooper Kupp will return to the lineup Thursday night against the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium. Puka Nacua will not play, but the second-year pro was designated to return to practice on Tuesday.
Will the two stars play in another game together?
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 5.
The Rams’ poor start (2-4) and Kupp’s large contract has the league buzzing that the Rams might move the 2021 NFL offensive player of the year.
Kupp said he was aware of speculation but would “be where my feet are.”
“That’s all I know,” he said after a jog-through. “I have a job to do here and I take a lot of pride in giving everything I can to the guys in this building and being able to step on the field knowing I’ve prepared the best I can.
“For 7½ years I’ve been an L.A. Ram, and I’ve taken that approach every single day. And whatever happens outside of that, I’ve got to control what I can control. And right now that means being the best L.A. Ram I can be and I’m going to continue to do that.”
Kupp was asked if the Rams had spoken to him or his agents about a possible trade.
“Yeah, nothing really. No,” Kupp said. “It is that time of the year. There’s going to be rumors, going to be things that go around. Like I said, let that stuff as much as I can be in the background and, like I said, handle my business.”
Quarterback Matthew Stafford acknowledged that he was aware of the speculation surrounding Kupp. The 16th-year pro said NFL players “understand it comes with the territory,” and that he does not “put much into it,” because they have a game to prepare for.
“I know that’s where he stays too,” Stafford said of Kupp, “so don’t worry too much about that stuff.”
In the social media age, the speculation is easier on players than family members, Stafford said.
“They’re spending all day on their phone looking at that stuff,” he said, “We’re spending all day looking at film trying to get ready for an opponent.”
Each season, as the trade deadline approaches, Rams general manager Les Snead makes and routinely fields calls about star players.
Since returning to Los Angeles from St. Louis in 2016, the Rams have been buyers rather than sellers.
In 2018, they acquired edge rusher Dante Fowler. In 2019, they traded for star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. In 2021, they signed receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and traded for edge rusher Von Miller.
So trading Kupp would be a departure.
Kupp, 31, received a massive extension in the spring of 2022 after a record-setting 2021 season that ended with him being named the most valuable player of Super Bowl LVI.
Kupp is earning $20 million this season, but only $5 million of his $20 million salary in 2025 is guaranteed, according to overthecap.com. He is signed through 2026, but none of the $19.8 million is guaranteed, according to the website.
Kupp has been an integral part of coach Sean McVay’s success ever since Snead made Kupp a third-round draft pick in 2017.
Receivers such as Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks all contributed to McVay’s offense before they left as a free agent or were traded or cut. But Kupp was the constant, the favored target for quarterback Jared Goff from 2017 to 2020 and for Stafford after the Rams traded Goff to the Detroit Lions.
In 2021, Kupp achieved the so-called triple crown by leading the NFL in catches, yards receiving and touchdown catches. He caught two touchdown passes in the Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
But for the third time in as many seasons since, he has struggled with injuries.
In 2022, Kupp sat out the final eight games because of an ankle injury.
Last season, Kupp suffered a hamstring injury during training camp and was placed on injured reserve, forcing him to sit out four games. Kupp’s absence enabled Nacua to emerge as a star en route to a record-setting rookie season.
When Kupp returned, he appeared on his way to recapturing his form, but he suffered an ankle injury that limited him the rest of the season.
In July, Kupp reported to training camp healthy and eager to show the injuries were behind.
He caught 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in a season-opening defeat by the Lions, but then suffered an ankle injury in a Week 2 rout by the Arizona Cardinals.
With Nacua and others already on injured reserve, the Rams opted not to place Kupp on the list with the hope that he might not be sidelined for the minimum of four games.
But Kupp did not play against the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears or Green Bay Packers. He practiced last week but was not deemed ready for last Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
So Thursday night could be an audition of sorts as contenders ponder whether to make a move that could put them over the top and other teams begin to sell off assets and look ahead.
Last week’s practices enabled Kupp to prepare for his return.
“Excited to get rolling,” he said.
