'Champagne Problem!' Los Angeles Rams' Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua Situation
When the Los Angeles Rams lost star receiver Cooper Kupp to a hamstring injury before the season, many had the same question - who can the Rams possibly have fill his shoes?
The answer came abundantly clear very early - fifth-round rookie receiver Puka Nacua, who leads the NFL in targets (52) and receptions (39) and ranks second in receiving yards (501), trailing only Minnesota Vikings All-Pro Justin Jefferson.
And now, with Kupp set to return to practice ahead of the Rams' Week 5 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, there's a new question - how will Kupp's return impact Nacua?
According to Rams coach Sean McVay, this answer is also clear: Kupp won't hinder Nacua's stellar rookie year.
“I think he’s going to continue to play at a high level," McVay said. "I don’t see any indications of that changing. I see the way this guy plays without the ball. I see the way that he’s running routes even if he might not be a part of the progression where (quarterback) Matthew (Stafford) ends up finding him.
"He has done a great job. I think he has only gotten better. When you are able to add another great player into the mix, it’s only going to help our offense."
Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have a chance to be one of the NFL's best receiver duos.
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
McVay also praised receivers TuTu Atwell and Van Jefferson for their contributions during Kupp's absence, and they should remain key weapons moving forward.
With Kupp poised to be back soon, McVay and staff will now look towards personnel groupings and game plans to figure out how, exactly, to incorporate him into the mix of Los Angeles' current configuration of wideouts.
And so, McVay doesn't currently know precisely how it'll look; he said that's something he'd start working towards after finishing his call with reporters Monday afternoon.
Regardless, it's all positive ... and McVay is looking forward to finding ways to showcase the talents of both Kupp and Nacua for the rest of the season.
“Anytime that you're able to add a player like (Kupp) into the mix, we're going to be better," McVay said. "Figuring out how to be able to utilize both of them, those are champagne problems. That's something that we've kind of thought about, but I think it's situationally specific.”
McVay pointed to Kupp and former Rams standout receiver Robert Woods co-existing as proof that his offense can foster production from multiple wideouts.
The theme of both Kupp and Woods is the ability to provide versatility, be it kicking out blocks in the run game or finishing at the catch point and generating yards after catch.
McVay has seen two players thrive alongside each other firsthand ... and he's confident Kupp and Nacua will do the same.
“What you're seeing is two guys that can do a lot of different things with and without the ball and both stay grounded through the catch," McVay said. "Both are very good after the catch. Both are tough in contested situations. I think the simplest evaluation that I got of what are you looking for in receivers?
"Guys that can get open and catch the ball and I think both those guys can do that.”
The Rams have a good "problem" on their hands - a former NFL Offensive Player of the Year returning to join a receiver in the midst of one of the most surprising rookie campaigns in recent memory.
How will it all play out?
Only time will tell - but history tends to repeat itself, and Los Angeles may be in line to field a top-shelf receiver duo for years to come.
