Rams Pro Bowler returns to practice

When wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are healthy, the Los Angeles Rams have one of the best pass-catching duos in the NFL.

Kupp has been deemed good to go for the start of the 2024 campaign after being limited to 12 games last season due to a hamstring injury. Fresh off his historic rookie season, Nacua suffered a knee injury in early August that has kept him sidelined most of the month.

The 2023 Pro Bowler returned to practice on Monday, however, allowing Rams fans to take a big sigh of relief.

Monday's news doesn't guarantee that Nacua will suit up for the team's Week 1 "Sunday Night Football" contest against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 8, but with 13 days until the season-opener, he appears on track to play.

The Lions are expected to be one of the best teams football in 2024 so the Rams will need to be as close to full strength as possible in what should be a challenging tilt to begin the season.

Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford turned 36 in February but had a strong 2023 campaign, finishing with 3,965 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for a 92.5 completion percentage. Stafford made his second Pro Bowl (first since 2014), finished fourth in the AP Comeback Player of the Year voting and eighth in the MVP voting.

The Rams are also hoping running back Kyren Williams can duplicate his breakout season, as he went from not even opening 2023 as the starter to leading the league in rushing yards per game (95.3) and finishing third in rushing yards (1,144) and total touchdowns (15). Williams was a first-time Pro Bowler and was named second team All-Pro.

Outside of Kupp, Nacua and Williams, the Los Angeles offense lacks firepower. Behind the two-headed monster at wideout, the projected depth chart shows DeMarcus Robinson lining up in three-wide sets and sixth-round rookie Jordan Whittington, fourth-year pro Tutu Atwell and fifth-year player Tyler Johnson acting as depth pieces.

Starting tight end Tyler Higbee is recovering from ACL and MCL tears that he suffered in January and it was reported in mid-August that he was expected to miss the start of the 2024 season.