Since earning triple crown honors in the 2021 season, Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp hasn’t been able to reach those heights due to multiple injuries the past two years.
The year following his historic regular season and playoff run, Kupp suffered a high-ankle sprain that required surgery and an extensive rehab process. The star wide receiver then went into training camp before the 2023 campaign completely healthy before suffering a hamstring injury that cost him the first four games of the regular season.
The Rams were able to make do in Kupp’s absence, but the team needs him at his best if they hope to make another run at the postseason. The early reports on Kupp’s health have been good as he’s been using the offseason to train and strengthen his body for the upcoming year.
Despite the setbacks he’s suffered, Kupp still believes that he can be an elite player on the field and get back to that 2021 form, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“I don’t know if I would be still playing if I didn’t think that was still who I was,” Kupp said, when asked if he can get backed to his 2021 form after playing through injuries the last two seasons. “That is who I believe myself to be. I’m counting on myself to get there for my teammates, that’s the player they’re counting on to be there on Sundays, and I believe the work that I do, how I prepare, all that stuff’s going to be there to be the productive player that I know that I am.”
Kupp’s never been one to get discouraged or rattled when things don’t go his way, and his leadership and maturity shine through in his comments. When healthy, Kupp is one of the best receivers in the league because of his technical route running, attention to detail and sure hands when catching the football.
Although the emergence of Puka Nacua was the talk of the Rams’ 2023 season, Kupp will be counted on to uplift the offense. Head coach Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford have never doubted Kupp’s ability and resolve and it’ll be interesting to watch him prove he still has what it takes to dominate games.
Puka Nacua trying to reach Cooper Kupp’s expectations
As soon as Puka Nacua got drafted by Los Angeles, he made sure to pepper Cooper Kupp with as many questions as possible. Despite his own historic season, Nacua believes he’s still trying to reach Kupp’s expectations.
