The Los Angeles Rams have missed Cooper Kupp in their first two games of the season, and they’ll continue to for at least the next two weeks while he remains on injured reserve. But the star receiver hasn’t been far from his teammates during the week and on Sundays.
He’s gone from player to coach, doing everything he can to help the team’s other receivers succeed in his absence. The Rams’ younger wideouts are seeking Kupp’s advice and knowledge, to the point where they requested that he travel with the team to Seattle in Week 1 – something players on injured reserve typically don’t do.
Sean McVay talked about that in a feature story at The Athletic, sharing how impressed he was by the fact that his wideouts asked if Kupp could be on the sideline in Seattle.
“What was the most powerful thing is that those guys asked,” McVay said. “Usually guys that are on IR don’t make the trips to these away games, things like that. Those guys specifically asked because they wanted his feedback, his ability to lead and the information that he’s able to give them that can be digestible and applicable. …
“There’s such a credibility that comes. It’s one thing when we’re saying it, it’s another thing when Cooper is explaining it. To be able to articulate it through (the) lens, ‘I’ve been in these exact situations, I know exactly what we’re looking for.’ He was right there on the sidelines. He’s ‘Coach Kupp’ right now.”
Kupp has gotten endless praise from McVay, Matthew Stafford and other teammates for his knowledge of the game. It’s part of what makes him such a good receiver, being able to read a defense, use leverage against the defender and get open with an incredible amount of consistency.
Puka Nacua has been in Kupp’s hip pocket learning everything he can from the All-Pro and 2021 Offensive Player of the Year, which is evident on the field. While Nacua doesn’t have the track record that Kupp does, he’s playing the same role in the slot, running a lot of the same routes and producing at a very high level.
Kupp may not be available on the field, but he’s been there for his teammates every step of the way during this rehab process.