Jan 19, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) catches a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half in a 2025 NFC divisional round game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Cooper Kupp says Rams informed him he will be traded

Longtime Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp announced Monday evening that his tenure with the team is over and he has been informed that he will be traded, a decision he disagrees with.

Kupp, who has spent eight seasons with the Rams, revealed the team’s decision in a social media post.

“I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships,” Kupp began. “I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA.

“Still, if there’s one thing that I have learned over the years: there are so many things that are out of your control, but it is how you respond to these things that you will look back on and remember.

“I have taken so much pride in playing alongside my teammates for the LA community, so thank you for embracing my family and making this such a special place for us.”

Kupp had a season for the ages in 2021 when he won the NFL receiving triple crown with 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection.

He continued his stellar campaign with 33 catches for 478 yards and six touchdowns in four postseason games. He was named MVP of the Super Bowl LVI for catching eight passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, including the winning 1-yard score with 1:25 left in the Rams’ 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

But Kupp has been plagued by injuries over the past three seasons and has only topped 800 yards once during the span. This season, he injured an ankle in Week 2 and was limited to 12 games, producing 67 receptions for 710 yards and six touchdowns.

Kupp, who turns 32 in June, is eager to recapture his form.

“2024 began with one of the best training camps of my career,” Kupp wrote. “Preparations start now for 2025. Highly motivated, as healthy as ever, and looking forward to playing elite football for years to come.”

Kupp is due to make $20 million in 2025 in salary and bonuses with a cap hit of $29.78 million so the Rams may find it a difficult to find a trade partner.

One interested party could be Minnesota, as Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell was the Rams’ offensive coordinator when Kupp had his mammoth campaign.

Kupp was a college star at FCS program Eastern Washington before the Rams drafted him in the third round of the 2017 draft. He has 634 catches for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns in 104 regular-season games (89 starts).

–Field Level Media

Aug 17, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Cooper Kupp Next Team Odds: Odds-on favorite emerges

Wide receivers have been the soup du jour ahead of the NFL trade deadline, with DeAndre Hopkins the latest to change addresses on Wednesday.

Hopkins, who was dealt to defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City by Tennessee, followed Davante Adams heading from Las Vegas to the New York Jets and Amari Cooper going from Cleveland to Buffalo.

Could Cooper Kupp make it a quartet of Pro Bowl wide receivers on the move before the Nov. 5 deadline?

The Los Angeles Rams’ star is expected to return Thursday night from an ankle injury that has sidelined him since Week 2. That is, if he’s still on the roster when the Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings.

Kupp acknowledged that he’s “aware” of rumors that he could be dealt as the Rams seek to add draft capital. With three veteran wide receivers having already been dealt, an odds-on favorite has emerged at one sportsbook to land Kupp if he’s dealt.

COOPER KUPP NEXT TEAM ODDS*
Steelers (4/5) (-125)
Chargers (4/1)
Buccaneers (6/1)
Lions (7/1)
Falcons (16/1)
Commanders (18/1)
Bills (20/1)
Saints (20/1)
Chiefs (25/1)
Ravens (28/1)
Cowboys (33/1)
Dolphins (33/1)
49ers (33/1)
Cardinals (40/1)
Broncos (40/1)
Texans (40/1)
Colts (40/1)
Giants (40/1)
Bears (50/1)
Packers (50/1)
Jaguars (50/1)
Jets (50/1)
Seahawks (50/1)
Titans (50/1)
Panthers (75/1)
Bengals (75/1)
Browns (75/1)
Vikings (75/1)
Patriots (75/1)
Eagles (75/1)
*Odds from SportsBetting.ag provided for entertainment purposes only.

The Steelers improved to 5-2 while turning to veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in Week 7. George Pickens leads the team with 31 catches for 474 yards, but Calvin Austin III is the team’s next-leading wideout with only 11 receptions for 203 yards, followed by former Ram Van Jefferson’s 10 catches for 77 yards. All three have a lone touchdown through seven games.

The Chargers (3-3) have one of the league’s most inexperienced receiving corps after the offseason departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Rookie Ladd McConkey leads the team with 24 catches for 265 yards and a pair of touchdowns, with Joshua Palmer (13 catches) and Quentin Johnston (14) the only other wideouts with double-digit catches.

Another potential landing spot is Tampa Bay (4-3), where the Buccaneers lost Mike Evans (hamstring) for at least several games and Chris Godwin (ankle) potentially for the season in Monday night’s loss to Baltimore. That leaves journeyman Sterling Shepard and his eight catches as the team’s leading healthy wideout.

The fourth-shortest odds belong to Detroit (5-1), with the Lions bracing to be without Jameson Williams due to a two-game suspension. Williams’ 17 catches are second on the team only to Amon St. Brown’s 39, with the third-leading wideout being Kalif Raymond with 11 receptions.

KUPP CONCERNS
Kupp, 31, has been injury prone over the last three seasons since his mammoth 2021 campaign in which he won the receiver Triple Crown by leading the NFL with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also was Super Bowl MVP that season when the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals.

The $14 million in guaranteed money remaining on his contract — and how much the Rams are willing to eat of it — is another hurdle that must be cleared in any trade discussions.

“I’m aware of it, but at the end of the day, I mean, I’m going to be where my feet are,” Kupp told reporters on Tuesday. “That’s all I know. I have a job to do here. And I take a lot of pride in giving everything I can for the guys in this building and being able to step on the field knowing that I prepared the best that I can.

“And for seven and a half years, I’ve been an L.A. Ram and I’ve taken that approach every single day. And whatever happens outside of that, I’ve got to control what I can control. And right now that means being the best L.A. Ram that I can be.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) is carted off the field after being injured against the Detroit Lions in the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Rams open 21-day practice window for star WR Puka Nacua

The Los Angeles Rams opened the 21-day practice window for receiver Puka Nacua on Tuesday.

The transaction means that the Rams have 21 days to determine whether or not to activate Nacua (knee) off injured reserve.

Nacua was bothered by the knee during training camp and then sprained his PCL during the season-opening contest against the Detroit Lions. He had four receptions for 35 yards in the 26-20 road loss.

Last season, Nacua set NFL rookie records of 105 receptions and 1,486 yards in 17 games. He also caught six touchdown passes while earning Pro Bowl honors.

Los Angeles is hoping to have wideout Cooper Kupp (ankle) back for Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. Kupp was injured in Week 2.

Kupp has been injury prone over the last three seasons since his mammoth 2021 campaign in which he won the receiver Triple Crown by leading the NFL with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also was Super Bowl MVP that season when the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA;  Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Rams WR Cooper Kupp questionable for Week 7; Nacua next week?

Cooper Kupp is questionable to play on Sunday but Rams head coach Sean McVay is optimistic the No. 1 receiver is ready to roll when Los Angeles hosts the Las Vegas Raiders.

Kupp has been out with a high left ankle sprain, an injury that hit Week 2 at the Arizona Cardinals. He caught 14 passes Week 1 against the Lions.

Two weeks ago, McVay said this week’s matchup against the Raiders was “an ideal target” for Kupp’s return. The Rams are returning from their bye week.

“(The Raiders game) was always an optimistic target date just based on a few weeks back that we had set,” McVay said. “But by no means is that guaranteed.”

The Rams are not ready to bring Puka Nacua back from knee surgery, but the wide receiver is expected to be back soon. He had four catches for 35 yards before exiting the Sunday night opener at Detroit on Sept. 8. He was placed on injured reserve with a sprained PCL. The Rams have a short week of preparation after playing the Raiders with the currently undefeated Minnesota Vikings (5-0) up next on Thursday night.

Kupp, 31, has 18 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown in two games this season. He has amassed 585 catches for 7,213 yards and 52 scores over his eight-year career. The Rams selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Eastern Washington.

His best season came in 2021, when he led the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947), receiving touchdowns (16) and receiving yards per game (114.5) en route to his only Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors to date. He caught the game-winning touchdown in that year’s Super Bowl, for which he was named MVP.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA;  Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Rams WR Cooper Kupp (ankle) won’t play Week 5 vs. Packers

The Los Angeles Rams have ruled out star wide receiver Cooper Kupp for their Week 5 game against the visiting Green Bay Packers, coach Sean McVay said Monday.

Kupp sprained his left ankle in Week 2 and has sat out since, though the Rams declined to place him on injured reserve, which would have required him to miss four games. Los Angeles has its bye in Week 6, so if Kupp returns for Week 7, he’ll have missed only three games.

McVay told reporters after Week 2 that the Rams were “kind of running out of spots” on injured reserve for players who can be designated for return. The team’s other top receiver, Puka Nacua, was placed on IR after the season opener.

Kupp, the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year, had 18 catches on 27 targets for 147 yards and a touchdown in his first two games of this season. He has racked up 585 receptions for 7,213 yards and 52 TDs since joining the Rams as a third-round draft pick in 2017.

As far as other Rams waiting to come off IR, the team plans to open the 21-day practice windows for injured cornerback Darious Williams and defensive tackle Larrell Murchison.

“I don’t want to put any unnecessary timetable on those guys, but I know they’re making good progress,” McVay said. “I think playing football and simulating some of the settings that occur in practice are going to be the best indicators. But they’re making good progress. That certainly isn’t something I would rule out — the possibility of them going.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA;  Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Rams star WR Cooper Kupp (ankle) exits vs. Cardinals

Los Angeles Rams standout receiver Cooper Kupp injured his left ankle in the second quarter of Sunday’s 41-10 road loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Kupp was listed as doubtful to return but didn’t appear in the second half.

Kupp was injured on his fourth and final reception of the game, a 24-yard gain with 43 seconds left in the first half. He was noticeably limping when he walked off the field at halftime.

Kupp had a stellar start to the season last week when he caught 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in a 26-20 overtime road loss against the Detroit Lions.

The Rams were already without star wideout Puka Nacua, who injured a knee in Week 1 and went on injured reserve.

–Field Level Media

Nov 6, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA;  Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) runs for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Sean McVay: Rams WR Cooper Kupp will play Sunday

Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp will make his season debut Sunday against the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles.

Head coach Sean McVay confirmed Friday that Kupp will play when the Rams (2-2) take on the visiting Eagles (4-0) at SoFi Stadium.

Kupp missed the first four weeks of the season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. The Rams opened his 21-day practice window Wednesday, and he is expected to be activated to the 53-man roster Friday or Saturday, McVay said.

Kupp, 30, was first injured in a training camp practice Aug. 1. He originally was expected to be out one to two weeks but missed all three preseason games. He returned to practice before the Aug. 26 preseason game against Denver before having a setback with the injury.

He won the receiving triple crown in 2021, leading the NFL with 145 catches, 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, and won NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He was limited to nine games in 2022 with a high ankle sprain.

Kupp has 508 receptions for 6,329 yards and 46 touchdowns in 80 games (66 starts) since the Rams drafted him in the third round in 2017.

In Kupp’s absence, fifth-round pick Puka Nacua established NFL rookie records for catches and yards through four games.

Nacua, 22, has 39 receptions for 501 yards and one touchdown. Last Sunday, he capped his third 100-yard game of the season with the game-winning 22-yard TD catch in overtime to beat the Indianapolis Colts, 29-23.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) is stopped by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (2) after a 32 yard pass play in the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Rams WR Puka Nacua sets multiple NFL records vs. 49ers

Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua set an NFL rookie record with 15 receptions in Sunday’s 30-23 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and set another mark with 25 catches over his first two NFL games.

Nacua also is the first rookie to rack up 10-plus catches and gain 100 or more receiving yards in each of his first two NFL games. He had 147 yards against San Francisco and had 10 receptions for 119 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1.

The previous rookie record for catches over two games was set by Earl Cooper (19) of the 49ers in 1980.

“He’s tough. He’s a physical competitor,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of Nacua after Sunday’s game. “He continued to battle all the way through to the end.

“He’s the epitome of what we want to be as Rams. I love Puka Nacua and I was really pleased with him today.”

Nacua was a fifth-round pick (No. 177 overall) in the 2023 draft out of BYU. Interestingly, he was the Rams’ fourth selection of the fifth round. Nacua had 48 receptions for 625 yards and five touchdowns in nine games last season.

Nacua caught 91 passes in two seasons with BYU after beginning his college career at Washington. He had 16 catches in two seasons for the Huskies.

Nacua was targeted 20 times during the contest against San Francisco. He has become a focal point of the offense with star Cooper Kupp sidelined with a hamstring injury. Kupp is on injured reserve and will miss at least two more games.

Kupp won the receiving triple crown in 2021, leading the NFL with 145 catches, 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He was limited to nine games in 2022 with a high ankle sprain.

Nacua is doing a nice impersonation with 25 receptions for 266 yards. He has the most receptions by a rookie in Rams franchise history through his first two games. Tavon Austin held the previous mark, hauling in 12 catches.

–Field Level Media

Jun 14, 2023; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp (10) during minicamp at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Rams WR Cooper Kupp could land on IR, Sean McVay says

Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Cooper Kupp, already ruled out for the season opener, could land on injured reserve, coach Sean McVay admitted to reporters Friday.

“We have until tomorrow to make that decision, but I would say there is a definite possibility on all those guys,” McVay said of Kupp, backup quarterback Stetson Bennett and tight end Hunter Long.

McVay had ruled Kupp out for Week 1 against the host Seattle Seahawks back on Wednesday. Kupp has been seeing a specialist about his lingering hamstring problem.

If Kupp or any of his injured teammates are placed on injured reserve by Saturday, they will miss the first four games of the regular season before being eligible to return.

Kupp, 30, was first injured in a training camp practice Aug. 1, leaving the field 30 minutes into a workout. He was originally expected to be out 1-2 weeks but he missed all three preseason games.

Kupp won the receiving triple crown in 2021, leading the NFL with 145 catches, 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, and won NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He was limited to nine games in 2022 with a high ankle sprain.

Bennett (throwing shoulder) and Long (thigh) were also ruled out for the Seattle game on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

September 22, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Around the League: Rams WR Cooper Kupp, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce hurt

Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee in practice two days before the Kansas City Chiefs begin defense of their Super Bowl title.

The All-Pro caught 110 passes for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022, but the Chiefs are maneuvering the game plan with the expectation Kelce will be on the sideline when the Detroit Lions arrive at Arrowhead Field on Thursday night.

“We’ll just see how he does moving forward,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said.

Kelce went down during a red-zone installation period in practice.

There was no sign of star defensive tackle Chris Jones on Tuesday, scuttling reports the contract holdout could end before Week 1. Reid said there was nothing new to report with Jones.

–Cowboys owner confident Dak Prescott is secure in Dallas

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stirred a bit of drama when he said he unilaterally pulled the trigger on acquiring backup quarterback Trey Lance from the San Francisco 49ers.

Jones doesn’t believe the acquisition changes anything for quarterback Dak Prescott and said the plan remains to work toward another long-term extension with his starting quarterback.

“Those contracts, those types of numbers, especially the big ones, you live with constantly,” Jones told 105.3 FM The Fan on Tuesday. “That’s always on your mind. There’s never a time where it goes away. We expect Dak to be with us a long time.”

–Steelers expect 49ers holdout Nick Bosa to play Sunday

NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa remains a holdout, working out away from the San Francisco 49ers for the past five weeks while hoping for a new contract.

Even as 49ers general manager John Lynch casts doubt on Bosa reporting to the team, passing a physical, practicing and playing at Pittsburgh on Sunday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin implored his team to expect the All-Pro on the field.

“That’s what those guys do,” Tomlin said, drawing parallels to the 2021 holdout of J.J. Watt that ended the week of the opener. “They show up and they are who they are, and so we expect him to be there as a prudent approach to take. And if he’s going to be there, we know the type of player that he intends on being, and so that’s something to be dealt with.”

–Kupp of woe for Rams

Cooper Kupp is trending the wrong direction in Los Angeles. Head coach Sean McVay said the Rams’ top receiver had a setback in his recovery from a strained hamstring and spent multiple days with a specialist in Minnesota this week.

His status for Week 1 at Seattle is in doubt. Van Jefferson would rise to the No. 1 receiver role on the depth chart if Kupp doesn’t play.

Kupp, 30, was first injured in a training-camp practice Aug. 2, leaving the field 30 minutes into a workout. He was originally expected to be out 1-2 weeks but he missed all three preseason games.

Kupp played nine games last season before a season-ending ankle injury but led the NFL in receptions (145), yards (1,947) and touchdowns (16) in 2021.

The Rams are set to open the season Sept. 10 at Seattle, leaving little time for the 2021 All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection to resume on-field work.

–Bears list Nathan Peterman as No. 2

Nathan Peterman is the backup quarterback to Justin Fields on the depth chart released by the Chicago Bears on Tuesday.

Peterman is ahead of rookie Tyler Bagent, the rookie Division II product who excelled in preseason to win a roster spot. Bagent is No. 3 but remains on the active roster.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Peterman, who was on the practice squad most of last season, is an asset to Fields.

“Him and Justin learned the offense together, so to speak, so they’re speaking the same language. They understand it really well. I think it’s good to have him in the room,” Eberflus said.

–Field Level Media