Los Angeles Rams superstar wide receiver Cooper Kupp has been dealing with a hamstring injury that not only held him out of nearly all of training camp, but also caused him to miss the first four games of the regular season on injured reserve. The Rams held firm in his absence, going 2-2 largely thanks to the emergence of rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua.
But the Rams face another tough test in Week 5 with the Philadelphia Eagles in town on Sunday afternoon. The Rams play host to one of the best teams in football and one of two remaining undefeated teams. The Eagles have an elite offense that has been a struggle for any of their previous opponents to contain.
The Rams’ best chance at a victory may be to keep pace with their offense instead of stopping it. And Kupp, who has been out for four weeks, may be able to help in that goal.
Reportedly, Kupp is planning to take the field at SoFi Stadium against the Eagles, according to Dianna Russini, Jourdan Rodrigue and Jake Ciely of The Athletic:
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is expected to play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles barring any setbacks, according to team sources.
The Rams are, of course, being careful. But the early returns on Kupp at Rams practice have been positive, as he has made several plays that confirm his healthy status.
While the Rams are being cautious about keeping him on a count at practice, Kupp looks “sharp.” He’s felt good enough to extend for the football, even making a one-handed grab, per sources.
The Rams getting Kupp back in general is a massive victory. Kupp is one of the best wide receivers in football, and with Nacua’s emergence, the Rams have an elite one-two punch for Matthew Stafford. Both players have a knack for getting open quickly, a necessity against an Eagles defense that can get to the quarterback in a moment’s notice.
It won’t be an easy matchup for Kupp, who will return to the cornerback trio of Darius Slay, James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox. But Kupp has proven time and time again that he can be effective no matter the coverage.
Nacua names Rookie of the Week
Nacua has already received honors for some of the record-breaking performances he’s had in the early part of the season. After Week 4’s victory against the Indianapolis Colts, Nacua earned his second Rookie of the Week award, the first being Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers.
