Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp Had 'Fun' Playing With Puka Nacua
On a third-quarter drive, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford hit wide receiver Puka Nacua, who was dropped for a loss and fumbled on the play.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp was there to pounce on the football. In reality, it set up a punt on fourth-in-19. However, it was a good metaphor for the duo's ability to work in unison, as opposed to taking production from one another — a question for the Rams' offense coming into Sunday with Kupp's return from a hamstring injury.
"Yeah, it's fun being out there with him," Kupp said after Los Angeles' 24-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. "His joy, excitement that he has playing this game, he plays it physical and he has fun out there. It's good. It's fun playing with him. He's just going to continue to get better, which is crazy to say as good as he's been."
Kupp went to Minnesota for a second opinion, made his season debut Sunday and didn't miss a beat after starting the season on injured reserve.
He caught five passes on the Rams' opening drive for 56 yards, while finishing his day with eight receptions and 118 yards.
Nacua reeled in seven receptions for 71 yards, including a 19-yard contested touchdown catch with 32 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Los Angeles got six catches, 33 yards and one touchdown from the four other receivers that had at least one target, as Kupp and Nacua combined for 23 targets of Stafford's 34 pass attempts.
Nacua said having Kupp out there simplified the game.
"The game comes really easy, just flows naturally, being able to ask questions and see what were the coverages and what we expected before the game," Nacua said. "What we had talked about through the week happened right before our eyes because No. 10's out there."
Kupp and Nacua proved against the Eagles that instead of being Nos. 1 and 2 receivers, their skillsets make for more of a 1A-1B pass-catching duo.