The Los Angeles Rams receiver room outside of Cooper Kupp leaves much to be desired entering the 2023 season.
Kupp is expected to be 100 percent following surgery to fix the high-ankle sprain he suffered in 2022, but the No. 2 role in the offense appears up for grabs. Van Jefferson is the most likely candidate to see a bump in usage considering his talent and tenure, though third-year receivers Tutu Atwell and Ben Skowronek will get looks as well.
In Sean McVay’s system, the Rams have thrived having at least one viable co-star alongside Kupp. For years it was Robert Woods, though that changed when Los Angeles managed to sign Odell Beckham Jr. midway through their 2021 campaign.
Beckham became an integral part of the offense and had himself a monster playoff run that unfortunately ended with him tearing his ACL in Super Bowl LVI. Following yet another devastating injury, Beckham revealed that he seriously contemplated leaving football for good via Dan Pompei of The Athletic:
“I went through a lot the last couple of years, and I thought it was over,” he said about rehabbing his knee last year. “I didn’t want to get back up on the horse and do the same song and dance all over again.”
One of the NFL’s premier talents since 2014, Beckham’s rise to superstardom started to taper off as he dealt with several injuries that robbed him of multiple seasons. Beckham first tore his ACL in 2020 and after getting waived by the Cleveland Browns in 2021 signed a one-year deal with the Rams.
Beckham quickly became one of Matthew Stafford’s favorite targets and helped lead L.A. all the way to the Super Bowl. Had Beckham managed to play the entirety of Super Bowl LVI, there was a shot he could’ve been named the game’s MVP considering how productive he was in the first half.
After taking all of 2022 to recover, Beckham eventually landed with the Baltimore Ravens. Though Rams fans wanted him back in Los Angeles, the good news is is that he’ll keep playing and hopefully manage to stay healthy this time around.
Tyler Johnson hopeful to be No. 2 receiver behind Cooper Kupp
While Jefferson should win out in training camp and become L.A.’s undisputed No. 2, there are other veterans on the roster hoping to make their own case. The Rams signed Tyler Johnson late in free agency and he is hopeful he can become the team’s No. 2 behind Kupp.
