INGLEWOOD, Calif. — It’s been two games since the return of former Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp and he has made an instant impact.
Kupp played a huge part in the Rams’ latest 26-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
A week after scorching the Philadelphia Eagles for eight catches and 118 yards last week in his first game of the year.
Kupp finished Sunday’s game with seven catches for 148 yards and a touchdown as the Rams were able to pick up their third victory of the season.
The star Rams receiver dominated the Cardinals defense on every level: short, in the intermediate and down the field.
Many thought that Kupp would never look like the receiver he was a couple years ago after dealing with injuries. He has quieted all of those naysayers and looks like himself again.
“He looked like the Cooper Kupp we’re accustomed to seeing,” said coach Sean McVay. “I thought he made some big time plays. You look at it, at the end of the first half, that long connection that he and Matthew had. Cooper was outstanding today.”
The Rams haven’t eased Kupp back into the lineup and it has payed off for the offense.
The connection between Kupp and quarterback Matthew Stafford has looked very similar to the one that helped lead the Rams to a Super Bowl in 2022.
“I thought we obviously connected for some good ones,” said Stafford. “We’re going to try to continue to do that and spread the ball around as much as I can and get everybody involved. But I thought Coop did a really nice job.”
Kupp’s return gives the offense it’s main piece that fits perfectly well with the emergence of rookie receiver Puka Nacua, third year receiver Tutu Atwell and running back Kyren Williams.
From an offense unsure of if it would be able to achieve great success this year to one of the best with a healthy Kupp and the talented young pieces.
The second half offensive outburst against Arizona is what quarterback Stafford is hopeful to see going forward especially with Kupp playing so well.
“I thought we did a great job at halftime of making the adjustments to go out there and play the second half the way we wanted to play it,” said Stafford. “It’s definitely something to build on, but you have to go out there and prove it every single week as we know.”
With a healthy Cooper Kupp the skies the limit for this offense. He knows it but still sees some growth with himself going forward.
“It’s getting there. It felt good this week,” said Kupp. “Just getting more reps, more time we’ll just continue to keep getting better.”
Up next, the Rams are facing off against a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense this Sunday at Sofi Stadium.
