Rams WR Cooper Kupp Gets 'Hopeful' Injury Update From Sean McVay

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay is optimistic that star receiver Cooper Kupp can return in Week 5, the earliest date possible

No matter what happens on the field, the Los Angeles Rams and their fans are eagerly awaiting the return of star receiver Cooper Kupp.

The 2021 Offensive Player of the Year first left practice with a hamstring injury on Aug. 1, although it initially seemed like it wasn't anything major. As the season drew closer, though, Kupp suffered a setback and eventually sought out a specialist for treatment. Ultimately, the Rams placed Kupp on injured reserve just days before the season opener, ensuring he'd miss the first four games.

While Kupp is still a few weeks out from returning, it appears that he is on the right track. Speaking to the media on Friday, coach Sean McVay said he's optimistic about Kupp returning as soon as possible in Week 5, although he didn't get ahead of himself.

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“We are hopeful about that," McVay said. "I want to be careful to say, but the reason that we put him on IR was so that you know if it's going to be those four weeks that he's mandated to be able to miss and then we can take him off of the IR and be available for that fifth week. That was the reason that we made that decision that we did last week because you don't know what's going to really come up."

Injuries have been an unfortunate trend throughout Kupp's career, as he has only played two full seasons out of six so far. The silver lining to that is that he knows how to handle the recovery process very well. McVay labeled Kupp as a "resilient guy" and praised him for how he has responded to the situation.

With Kupp out of the lineup, the Rams' other receivers have had to step up. Two such receivers, rookie Puka Nacua and 2021 second-round pick Tutu Atwell, answered the call with 119 yards each in the season opener. As the two young receivers balled out on Sunday, Kupp played a big role on the sidelines.

"It's one thing when we're saying it, it's another thing when Cooper is explaining it... He’s Coach Kupp right now and I think one of the coolest things that he's doing is he's finding ways to make (a) tremendous impact on this team even though he is not able to be out on the field," McVay said.

Kupp likely wants nothing more than to get back on the field, and if he keeps recovering well, that will come sooner rather than later.