Rams Receiver Cooper Kupp ‘Showing Signs That He’s Back,’ Says Rival NFL Scout

The Los Angeles Rams bounced back from a poor 2022 campaign to make the playoffs last year despite an injury shortened season from wide receiver Cooper Kupp that ended with his lowest receiving totals since 2018. Quarterback Matthew Stafford found a new favorite target in rookie sensation Puka Nacua. With the 2024 season approaching, one rival NFL scout thinks Kupp is ready to return to form and give the Rams a dangerous 1-2 punch.

“Cooper Kupp is determined to bounce back to where he was a few seasons ago as one of the most prolific receivers in the league,” the scout said. “Late in the season, he was showing signs that he’s back.”

These anonymous comments were made as part of the exclusive Rams scouting report in the Athlon Sports 2024 Preview magazine , which is now available on newsstands.

“He caught eight passes for 115 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets against the Ravens in December,” the scout noted, “and eight passes for 111 yards and a touchdown on eight targets against the Commanders.”

Kupp has played 21 games over the past two seasons, combining to catch 134 passes for 1,549 yards and 11 touchdowns. He eclipsed all three of those numbers during his historic 2021 season, when he won the “wide receiver triple crown” with 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 scores.

Nacua stepped in last year to haul in 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. “Puka Nacua was excellent in every phase of the game as a rookie,” the scout said. “What he does for an encore is going to be really intriguing.”

Getting the ball to Kupp and Nacua will again be Stafford, who enters his fourth season with the Rams after 12 years in Detroit. Despite his age (36), the scout has no concerns that Stafford still has what it takes to win.

“Matthew Stafford hasn’t lost zip on the football. He can still sling it,” the scout said. “The throws he made last season were really impressive to me.”

Of course, the big challenge for the Rams in 2024 will be replacing retired defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible. The scout likes that the team added Florida State defensive tackle Braden Fiske in the second round of this year’s draft. “His motor is special,” the scout said of Fiske.”

The Rams drafted a pair of FSU defenders, also taking linebacker Jared Verse in the first round.

“Drafting Jared Verse and Fiske should go a long way toward making up for the loss of Donald.”

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