INGLEWOOD, Calif. — For the primary time since Week 1, the Los Angeles Rams had receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua again on the sector collectively within the group’s 30-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night time.
Rams coach Sean McVay would love it to remain that approach. Amid reviews that the Rams had approached groups about buying and selling Kupp earlier than the Nov. 5 commerce deadline, McVay stated he was “actually glad” to have him again on the sector.
“And that is what I anticipate to remain that approach,” McVay stated.
Kupp, who had been out since spraining his left ankle in Week 2, had 5 catches for 51 yards and a landing. Nacua led the group with seven catches for 106 yards on 9 targets.
“Groups reached out,” McVay stated when requested in regards to the commerce hypothesis. “Among the issues that I’ve seen on the market, they’re simply not true.”
Kupp stated he is “not fascinated about that stuff,” however stated he thought there was one thing “sort of cool about all that stuff occurring outdoors of the power, however on a brief week, each minute spent getting ready, making an attempt to prepare to come back out right here and play.
“And so it gave me the chance to focus in on simply being the place my ft are, having the ability to put together as greatest I can and are available out right here and let it rip,” Kupp stated. “And all that stuff is what it’s.”
Whereas the Rams anticipated to get Kupp again after he was inactive in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7, the group stored Nacua’s return nearer to the vest. Nacua sprained a posterior cruciate ligament in Week 1 and was positioned on injured reserve. The Rams began his 21-day apply window to return from IR on Tuesday and activated him earlier than Thursday’s sport.
McVay stated he came upon Monday from vp of sports activities drugs and efficiency Reggie Scott that there was an opportunity Nacua may play this week fairly than ready till Week 9 in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks.
“[Nacua] stated, ‘I do not know, I am feeling fairly good,'” McVay stated. “He went and had a exercise session the place he ran routes and did an important job. His motion seemed good. I talked to him, and I stated, ‘Do you wish to attempt to give this factor a shot?’ And he stated sure.”
McVay, who has preached the significance of “return to efficiency” vs. “return to play” when discussing gamers getting back from damage, stated Nacua “had proven that he was prepared for that efficiency.”
“And this man’s mindset, his mentality … he is a battle daddy, he is a stud,” McVay stated. “I really like his play power and what he brings. He was able to go tonight, and he made a huge impact on the sport.”
Due to the quick week, Nacua wasn’t in a position to participate in a padded apply. Quarterback Matthew Stafford stated he had thrown Nacua “one, possibly two balls in apply this week, and that is the primary time because the first sport.”
It was Nacua’s eighth profession sport (out of 19 performed) with 100 receiving yards. That is tied with Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson for the second most inside a participant’s first 20 profession video games within the Tremendous Bowl period, in line with ESPN Analysis.
The Rams scored a season-high 30 factors Thursday, snapping a streak of 10 consecutive video games with fewer than 30, in line with ESPN Analysis.
And whereas McVay stated “everyone had a hand” within the victory, there is no doubt in regards to the “spark” and “power” the return of Kupp and Nacua delivered to the offense.
“There is a confidence, there is a consolation, there is a rapport that is been established with Matthew and Cooper through the years after which Puka and Matthew final 12 months after which main into this season,” McVay stated. “And so, these guys are ballers.
“And Matthew introduced out the most effective in everyone. However I believed Puka and Cooper had been able to go. They made an impression.”
