The National Football League is as stacked as it has ever been in terms of wide receiver talent. And Super Bowl LVI opponents Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams and Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals are the cream of the crop in the stacked receiver position.
Despite his injury, Kupp remains one of the league’s best receivers and is only one season removed from landing a triple crown in an Offensive Player of the Year 2021 campaign. He led the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16).
It was as dominant a season as any receiver has had in NFL history, and Chase — a rookie at the time — certainly took notice.
Chase was recently asked to put together his all-time Mount Rushmore, listing what he believes are the four greatest receivers in the history of the NFL, via Sports Illustrated:
Ja’Marr Chase’s ‘Mount Rushmore’ of wide receivers doesn’t include Randy Moss 👀 https://t.co/qvmw4iL2i2 pic.twitter.com/esO7pW8dnw
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 15, 2023
Chase says that the reason for putting Kupp on his Mount Rushmore ahead of players like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens is because of the historic nature of Kupp’s triple crown season. He puts Kupp alongside Jerry Rice, Calvin Johnson and Antonio Brown, all of whom are undoubtedly deserving of their place on this list.
And while the decision to put Kupp over Moss may be unpopular, there is something to be said about a younger player crediting perhaps the greatest individual season by a wide receiver ever that happened during his rookie campaign.
Chase had a historic rookie season in his own right — 81 receptions for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns — but he still sits far back of what Kupp accomplished. There is no denying that he has respect for what the Rams receiver accomplished.
Kupp making progress but not expected to re-join team this week
In the present day, Kupp is recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered at the beginning of training camp that could potentially hold him out until the start of the regular season. But Rams head coach Sean McVay provided an update on his status.
He said that Kupp is making good progress in his recovery, but it is unlikely he’ll be back this week for joint practices with the Las Vegas Raiders, saying that next week’s preseason finale against the Denver Broncos is a more realistic target for the star receiver.
