The Los Angeles Rams are set to host the Seattle Seahawks in what is arguably the most anticipated game of Week 11 as both teams look to establish themselves as the best team in the NFC West and perhaps the conference. But the game also marks Cooper Kupp’s return to L.A. for the first time since joining the Seahawks last offseason.
Kupp spent eight seasons with the Rams after being selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft and grew into one of the best receivers in the league. His 2021 season is one of the best ever by a receiver and he was absolutely dominant during the Rams’ run to the Super Bowl Championship that same season. The Rams would draft Puka Nacua in 2023 and during Kupp’s final two seasons with the team, the duo would develop a great relationship.
With Kupp’s return to the Rams coming up, Nacua admitted that it will be a weird feeling to face off with him on the opposite sideline but he is excited to see him, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“A foreign feeling for sure,” Nacua said Thursday. “I know I’m excited to see him. We’ve exchanged some texts. You have some games that you remember the dates and this has been one that I’m excited for. It’s the next one for us. It’s a big one and it’s the one we’re preparing for, but I’ll be excited to see ‘number 10’ for sure.”
Nacua would continue on discussing Kupp, adding that he is grateful for the relationship the two have and knows he can always call his former teammate if he needs anything:
“I guess that was the best way I could describe it like, ‘I know this is not the last time I’ll see you,'” Nacua said. “I saw something on social media. He was like, ‘I’m not dead.’ I’ve never thought of it like that. He’s just not in California, but he’s always been a phone call and a text away. I’m grateful for the relationship that we have and it’ll be fun to see him over there.”
Kupp being on the Seahawks doesn’t break the bond that Nacua built with him over their two seasons together. Everyone understood the business decision the Rams had to make and they were both able to take everything in stride and continue rooting for the success of the other, except when they have to face each other of course.
Cooper Kupp says facing Rams is ‘another football game’
For his part, Cooper Kupp is doing his best to keep a business-like approach to his return to L.A. to face the Rams as a member of the Seahawks. Kupp said that at the end of the day this contest is just another football game but admitted that it will be very difficult to separate the personal feelings from the business.
