Category: Latest Rams news

Report: Rams and Chiefs talked about Cooper Kupp trade before DeAndre Hopkins deal

Before the Chiefs acquired DeAndre Hopkins, the Rams talked to them about a potential deal for Cooper Kupp

The Kansas City Chiefs have found the star receiver they’ve been looking for, but it’s not Cooper Kupp. While some believed the Chiefs would be a perfect suitor for Kupp after reports surfaced of the Rams shopping him, they went in a different direction by acquiring DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday morning.

The Chiefs are giving up a conditional fourth-round pick, which is much less than the Rams’ reported asking price of a second-rounder. The Chiefs did talk to the Rams about a potential deal for Kupp before they acquired Hopkins, though.

According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Chiefs “needed to trade with a team that was willing to take on a large chunk of the salary and didn’t want to give up high picks,” so that took them out of the running for Kupp.

This doesn’t rule out the possibility of the Rams still trading Kupp as there are several other teams that could be looking for wide receiver help, including the Buccaneers, Chargers and Steelers.

The biggest hurdle could be Kupp’s contract, which may require the Rams to eat a large portion of his remaining salary.

Rams sign CB Ahkello Witherspoon to active roster, make 2 other moves

The Rams made a series of roster moves on Tuesday, highlighted by signing CB Ahkello Witherspoon to the active roster.

Tuesday was a busy day for the Rams’ front office. Cooper Kupp dominated the headlines with reports that he could be traded but behind the scenes, the team made several roster moves, including signing CB Ahkello Witherspoon to the active roster.

https://twitter.com/ramsnfl/status/1848884543694246138

Witherspoon rejoined the Rams in September after starting all 17 games for the organization last season. Witherspoon played the last three games on the Rams’ practice squad before signing to the active roster.

To make room earlier this week, Elias Neal was waived on Monday. Neal cleared waivers and was signed to the Rams’ practice squad.

The team also placed OLB Zach VanValkenburg on the practice squad injury list.

With Joe Noteboom, Puka Nacua and possibly others set to return within the next three weeks, the Rams are expected to make several more roster moves within the next 21 days.

Cooper Kupp comments on rumors that he could be traded by Rams

The Rams are reportedly shopping Cooper Kupp on the trade market. Here’s what Kupp said about the speculation that he could be dealt.

The excitement about Cooper Kupp’s likely return to the field this Thursday has been interrupted by reports that the Los Angeles Rams could trade their star receiver. Kupp, 31, has been an integral part of Sean McVay’s offense for the last seven-plus years but it was reported Tuesday that the Rams are calling teams and seeking a second-round pick in exchange for the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year.

After the Rams’ walkthrough, Kupp spoke to reporters and addressed the rumors that he could be dealt before the Nov. 5 deadline. Being the ultimate team player that he is, Kupp is taking it all in stride and remaining focused on helping the Rams win.

“Yeah, I’m aware of it but at the end of the day, I’m going to be where my feet are,” he said. “That’s all I know. I have a job to do here and I take a lot of pride in giving everything I can for the guys in this building and being able to step on the field knowing that I’ve prepared the best that I can. For seven and a half years, I’ve been an L.A. Ram and I’ve taken that approach every single day. Whatever happens outside of that, I have to control what I can control. Right now, that means being the best L.A. Ram that I can be and I’m going do that.”

All of this speculation has escalated fairly quickly, going from the Rams receiving calls to now making calls to teams themselves. It’s not certain that Kupp will be traded, but given the circumstances with the Rams being 2-4, there’s no question the team is considering a blockbuster deal involving their top receiver.

Kupp was asked if there have been conversations with the Rams about the trade rumors, but it doesn’t sound like there’s been much communication on that front.

“Nothing really, no,” he said. “It is that time of the year. There’s going to be rumors and things that go around. I let that stuff, as much as I can, be in the background and just kind of handle my business.”

The trade deadline is three weeks away, so the Rams have just two games left before they have to make a decision about Kupp’s future. If they lose their next two games to the Vikings and Seahawks, they’ll be 2-6 and selling at the deadline might be more enticing.

If they win their next two, however, they’ll be squarely in the mix in the NFC West, potentially even leading the division if everything falls their way.

Rams can’t pass up chance to add this former 1st-round LB who was just cut

The Commanders waived former first-round LB Jamin Davis on Tuesday and the Rams can’t pass up the chance to improve at the position

The Washington Commanders announced Tuesday that they have severed ties with 2021 first-round pick Jamin Davis, waiving him after three-plus seasons. Davis has failed to live up to expectations in the nation’s capital and after struggling to impress at linebacker, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn moved Davis to DE this offseason.

The move came after the team signed former Rams LB Bobby Wagner in the offseason. Davis did not adjust well to the switch and is now looking for a fresh start.

While some suitors may be interested in Davis, his play has likely turned many executives off from seeking his services. The Rams should take advantage of this situation as he is a clear upgrade over Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom.

While he has some deficiencies in pass coverage, he’s a tacking monster whose development was hampered by the multiple issues that sprung up during the tenure of Ron Rivera. Then-defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was using a scheme that was clearly behind the times and as a result, Davis always looked one step late on the play.

Davis has been a victim of mismanagement but he’s always controlled what he could control. He attacks blockers with violent intentions, he brings ball carriers down and he’s a nightmare for QBs when called to blitz.

He reminds me a lot of the Chargers’ Denzel Perryman and for a team with a below-average run defense, Davis could be a much-needed reprieve. With Reeder and Rozeboom struggling, the Rams should pounce on this chance to improve at linebacker.

Rams vs. Vikings injury report: Whittington upgraded, Fiske and Reeder still DNP

All the latest updates and news on the Rams’ injury report ahead of a Week 8 game vs. the Vikings.

The Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings once again held a walkthrough on Tuesday as they prepare for Thursday’s game at SoFi Stadium, taking it easy on players during this short week. As a result, their injury reports are estimations of each player’s participation level had they held a regular practice.

The Rams added Puka Nacua to the report after he returned to practice, listing him as a limited participant. Troy Reeder and Braden Fiske were the only two players to miss practice, with Jordan Whittington and Neville Gallimore being limited.

Cooper Kupp was a full participant for the second straight day and Joe Noteboom was upgraded from limited to full. Here’s a look at each team’s injury report.

Rams injury report

Vikings injury report

Cooper Kupp injury update

Kupp was once again a full participant in practice on Tuesday, putting him on track to return this week against the Vikings – assuming he isn’t traded first.

Jordan Whittington injury update

Whittington was upgraded from DNP Monday to limited today, which is a good sign for his chances of playing this week. He only played nine snaps on Sunday.

Joe Noteboom injury update

Noteboom has a good chance of being activated from IR this week after being estimated as a full participant. The Rams already freed up a roster spot by waiving linebacker Elias Neal.

Braden Fiske injury update

Fiske was once again listed as a non-participant with back soreness, so it’s unclear if he’ll be able to play against the Vikings on Thursday night.

Troy Reeder injury update

Reeder was once again listed as a non-participant with a hamstring injury, putting him in danger of missing Thursday’s game.

Puka Nacua injury update

Nacua returned to practice for the first time since Week 1 and was estimated to be a limited participant. He’s not quite ready to be activated

Rams designate Puka Nacua to return from IR: What it means for the WR

The Rams’ announcement on Tuesday signals Puka Nacua’s return is approaching

On the same day that news broke about Cooper Kupp potentially being traded, the Los Angeles Rams announced some other positive news regarding their Puka Nacua.

Nacua has been on injured reserve since going down with a knee injury in Week 1 but he’s officially been designated to return. He returned to practice on Tuesday, which is the first step toward him getting back on the field. He hasn’t yet been activated, but the Rams have started his 21-day clock to be taken off IR.

Sean McVay hasn’t given any indications that Nacua is on the verge of returning to game action but it’s at least an encouraging sign that he was able to practice on Tuesday ahead of the team’s game against the Vikings on Thursday.

The Rams must now activate him in the next 21 days, otherwise he will remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season. He can continue practicing moving forward, so he will be listed on injury reports after practice.

Nacua’s knee injury was diagnosed as a PCL sprain, similar to the injury he suffered in a joint practice with the Chargers in August. Tuesday marks the first time he has practiced since the week of the season opener against the Lions.

In the only game he played, Nacua caught four passes for 35 yards.

How will Cooper Kupp’s return impact Rams’ WR depth chart?

With Cooper Kupp returning, how will the Rams deploy their Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and their other WRs?

The Los Angeles Rams have merely been trying to tread water in the last four and a half games without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua available. Their receiving corps has consisted of players such as Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Whittington, with Tyler Johnson and Xavier Smith also contributing.

Despite only playing in a game and a half this season, Kupp still ranks third on the team in receptions (18), which shows how heavily utilized he was in Weeks 1 and 2 before injuring his ankle. With Kupp on the verge of returning this Thursday, it creates some questions about how the Rams’ receiving corps will look now that he’s back.

Even for a team that uses 11 personnel more than 90% of the time, fitting all six wideouts into the equation will be a challenge. So who stands to lose playing time when Kupp returns?

If we look at the snap counts from this season, it could help paint a clearer picture.

  • Demarcus Robinson: 352 snaps
  • Tutu Atwell: 220 snaps
  • Tyler Johnson: 196 snaps
  • Jordan Whittington: 190 snaps

Demarcus Robinson

Even though he’s only caught 13 passes this season, the fewest of the bunch, Robinson continues to play the majority of the snaps. He’s played at least 85% in every game this season, including 91% in the Rams’ most recent game against the Raiders. After starting the year as the No. 3 receiver, we can assume he’ll remain one of the starters with Kupp back.

Tyler Johnson

Johnson had been relegated to a role as the No. 4 receiver prior to Week 5 when Whittington was limited to just nine snaps due to a lack of practice time as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Johnson played just 10 and 11 snaps in Weeks 4 and 5 before playing 50 snaps on Sunday.

Tutu Atwell

Atwell’s role has been steady since Week 3, playing 74%, 90%, 81% and 78% of the snaps in the last four games. His skill set is completely different than Kupp’s, so he provides some variety at wide receiver with his speed and downfield ability.

Jordan Whittington

And then there’s the wild card Whittington, who caught a total of 13 passes for 151 yards in Weeks 4 and 5 before playing just nine snaps on Sunday. He played 97% of the snaps in Week 4 and 92% in Week 5, looking like he had fully taken over the Puka Nacua role. After being listed as a non-participant on Monday’s injury report, and with Sean McVay saying he hopes he has “a little bit more of a workload” this week, it doesn’t sound like Whittington is fully healthy.

Projection

As long as Kupp is healthy, which he appears to be after being a full participant on Monday’s estimated report, he’s going to play the majority of the snaps. We can probably expect Atwell to play about 75% of the snaps as one of the outside receivers, with Robinson getting a healthy number of snaps as the X-receiver on the boundary.

That leaves the rest of the snaps to Johnson and Whittington. Johnson led the team with 57 yards in Sunday’s win, but he’s not exactly a dynamic playmaker. And with Whittington banged up, he may not be ready for a full workload just yet.

The Rams have called teams about trading Cooper Kupp. Here’s their asking price.

The Rams aren’t just getting calls about Cooper Kupp. They’re shopping him to other teams and could trade him before the deadline.

It was recently reported that teams have called the Los Angeles Rams about potentially trading for Cooper Kupp before the Nov. 5 deadline, gauging the team’s interest in moving the star receiver. The Rams aren’t just receiving calls, though. They’re also making them.

According to The Athletic, the Rams “have called multiple teams” about possibly trading their Super Bowl MVP before the deadline. They’d be willing to eat some of Kupp’s 2024 salary in order to facilitate a trade and they’re looking for a second-round pick in return.

That’s quite the development from Les Snead and Sean McVay, who are always willing to move on from star players in the right situation. Kupp’s base salary is $15 million this year, about $6.2 million of which has already been paid by the Rams. That leaves another $8.8 million owed to the receiver, which would be paid by any team that acquires him.

Kupp has missed the last four games with an ankle injury, which he suffered in Week 2 against the Cardinals. He’s slated to return this Thursday against the Vikings, but if the Rams find a trade partner, it’s possible they’ll either deal him before that game or hold him out to ensure he remains healthy for any potential deal.

In the two games he’s played, he caught 18 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Report: Rams are ‘definitely open to trading Cooper Kupp’ and would even eat some salary

According to one report, the Rams are open to trading away Cooper Kupp and would even eat some of his salary if necessary

Cooper Kupp has been one of the Los Angeles Rams’ most valuable players in the last seven-plus years, but as we’ve seen with stars such as Todd Gurley and Jared Goff, Les Snead is never afraid to move on from cornerstone players. Might Kupp be the next to go?

With the NFL trade deadline approaching on Nov. 5, rumors have swirled about the possibility of the Rams trading away Kupp. At 2-4, they don’t exactly look like a playoff team and trading Kupp now could recoup them some draft assets instead of outright cutting him after the season.

According to a new report from Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Rams are “definitely open to trading Cooper Kupp,” and they’d even be willing to eat some of his salary to facilitate a move.

“If the Rams are willing to take on the salary I’ve heard they’re willing to do, they are definitely open to trading Cooper Kupp so we’ll see if they’ll be able to get a deal done,” Russini said.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on Saturday that teams have called the Rams about a potential trade involving Kupp and that “plenty of teams” searching for wide receiver help have him on their list of possible targets.

The Chiefs would make a lot of sense after they lost Rashee Rice to a knee injury, and now the Buccaneers could also be a suitor given the season-ending injury suffered by Chris Godwin on Monday night; Mike Evans also has a hamstring injury.

If the Rams lose their next two games and fall to 2-6 before the deadline, don’t be surprised if they trade away Kupp for the right price. The biggest questions are whether they’d be able to get more than a mid-round pick and how much salary they’d need to eat in order to make a deal happen.

Vikings could get one of their best playmakers back vs. Rams on Thursday

Cooper Kupp might not be the only star returning for Thursday’s Rams-Vikings game. T.J. Hockenson could also be back.

Thursday’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings could be a night of returns for both teams. Cooper Kupp is slated to play for the first time since injuring his ankle in Week 2 and on the Vikings’ side, one of their top playmakers could also be back.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday that it’s “very much a possibility” that tight end T.J. Hockenson will make his season debut against the Rams this week. Hockenson has been sidelined since tearing his ACL and MCL late in the 2023 season and he’s already been designated to return, so the Vikings need to activate him sooner than later.

“It’s early. We’ll make that determination kind of as these next couple of days [go by],” O’Connell said. “As we put together game plans, we want to have a good feel for that. But, very much a possibility.”

Adding Hockenson to an offense that already features Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones, Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor makes it even more dangerous, which is bad news for the Rams. Los Angeles’ secondary has improved in the last two games but that’s a difficult group to handle.

Last season, Hockenson caught 95 passes for 960 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games, nearly putting up his first 1,000-yard campaign in the NFL. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler, but somehow, he wasn’t selected last season.