Cooper Kupp's impact still felt in Rams' WR room despite being sidelined

When asked if Cooper Kupp would be practicing this week, Sean McVay told reporters that their star receiver is a no-go as he’s recovering from an ankle injury that he suffered in Week 2 against Arizona.

Despite Kupp’s inability to play, he still has a key role on the team as a teacher and mentor to his fellow pass catchers.

It’s been noted that Kupp played a massive role last year in Puka Nacua’s success, teaching him some of the nuances of the game. But according to Sean McVay, that wasn’t a one-off.

“He’s always been that, whether he’s out there [or] whether he isn’t,” McVay said. “He is an extension of the coaching staff. He’s always providing little tidbits of information. I think sometimes that player’s perspective is something that can be so beneficial because those are the guys that know and understand the intricacies of their experiences. I think it resonates with a lot of those guys.”

And the work has paid off with Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Whittington contributing at a higher rate than expected this season, each finding success.

With veteran Robinson’s role seemingly shrinking, we could see more of Whittington, who had a career-high performance against the Bears and has become a bigger piece to this offense.

Maybe it will be Kupp’s teachings that launch a big season from a Day 3 rookie for the second year in a row.