Cooper Kupp, the celebrated wide receiver, is set to face his former team, the Los Angeles Rams, in an upcoming game that has garnered significant attention. Kupp, who was instrumental in the Rams’ success, including their Super Bowl LVI victory, is approaching the matchup with a team-first mentality rather than personal motivations.
Kupp’s NFL path started when he was drafted by the Rams in the 3rd round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was from Eastern Washington, an FCS school. With the influence of head coach Sean McVay, Kupp soon established himself as a key part of the Rams’ offensive game plans. In 2021, he hit an even rarer milestone, as he accomplished the receiving triple crown. He went on to put up a ridiculous 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 scores. His achievement that year brought his incredible skill to the spotlight. It further entrenched his status as one of the league’s best wideouts.
During his time with the Rams, Kupp contributed significantly to the team’s success, catching the winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVI and earning the game’s MVP honors. His clutch gene enamored him to fans and teammates, making him a favorite in his own right. Earlier this year, the Rams supposedly told Kupp that they were going to trade him in February. This announcement represented a major inflection point in the way they work together. When no trade materialized, they released him in March, a call that Kupp has been very vocal about disapproving of.
Even with all of the change, Kupp has had an upbeat perspective. He stated, “I’m obviously so thankful for my time there,” reflecting on his experiences with the team and its fans. Kupp was adamant that he’s approaching the game against his former teammates as another game. He’s not treating it like an opportunity for payback against his old team.
Kupp’s caught 26 of 35 targets this season. He’s only rushed for 367 yards and one touchdown in eight contests. He’s had his production curtailed by injury, as he has only played in 33 games in the last three seasons. He missed one game earlier this season against the Washington Commanders due to a hamstring injury. Last week, he was explosive in his return against the Arizona Cardinals, having two catches for 74 yards.
While Kupp is gearing up for Sunday’s matchup against the Rams, he’s still concentrated on doing everything as a unit and executing their gameplan. He stated, “You can’t make this game about yourself. It just doesn’t work that way.” His devotion to his teammates is rooted in his conviction that personal dreams should never trump team aspirations. He added, “It would just be a shame to say I want this game more than any other game. That’s doing a disservice to the guys that sit in this room with me.”
Kupp’s love for his former teammates and the franchise shines through. He characterized his experience with the Rams as “an incredible experience”, from memories created with fans as well as players. As he gears up to face them again, he acknowledges the challenge ahead: “This is a real good football team… and presents some great challenges for us.”
With game day fast approaching, Kupp is resolute in his focus. He intends to treat the titanic tussle as they would any other royal rumble. What really matters to him is executing his plays and making a positive contribution to his team’s overall effort. “You get out there, play your game… at the end of the day, you’ve got to go play a football game,” he said.
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