Latest news with #Kupp
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams OC Mike LaFleur compares Kupp-Adams swap to blockbuster NBA trade
Apart from Matthew Stafford's return, the biggest move the Los Angeles Rams made this offseason was releasing Cooper Kupp after they signed Davante Adams. The marquee player swap made waves in the NFL because of Kupp's legacy with the team and Adams' hierarchy among the receiver elite, especially after Kupp signed with the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks. The big switch isn't lost on Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who noted that Adams brings something different to the table than Kupp. LaFleur compared it, oddly enough, to another major L.A.-based move: When the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers traded forward Anthony Davis (and more) to the Dallas Mavericks for guard Luka Dončić. 'It's one really, really historic good receiver for another really, really good historic receiver, but they're different, right?" LaFleur said at training camp this week. "I don't want to start using basketball references, but it's Anthony Davis and Luka. I'm not saying one's better than the other, but they're both really good players and you're going to use them in different ways. I think we know what Coop's specialty was, how his mind worked and the numbers that he's put up in this uniform. Likewise with Tae [Adams] and everywhere he's been and the numbers he's put up. Yeah, they are both receivers but they're very, very different and way we're going to use them is different.' This analogy may be difficult to understand if you're not an NBA fan, but it has its merits. Davis and Dončić are both considered stars in the world of basketball, and both play the game differently. Davis is a front-court player while Dončić is a ball-handling guard. Kupp and Adams are both among the best receivers in the NFL (Kupp maybe less so now given his injury history) but don't have the exact same traits. The other similarity is that the Rams chose Adams over Kupp, similar to the Lakers giving away Davis for Dončić. Finally, the decision was almost universally lauded by NFL pundits in the immediate aftermath, as Adams is considered one of the top-10 best receivers in the league even at an older age, while Kupp has seen declines in his game in recent years. Cross-sports references are never perfect, but this was a solid attempt by LaFleur. The Rams hope that Adams can be more for them in his first year than Dončić was for the Lakers last year, though.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Cooper Kupp brings a next-level mindset
For the last eight seasons, Cooper Kupp has been a major contributor to the Rams — winning Super Bowl MVP to cap the 2021 season. But now he's with one of his former team's biggest rivals, signing a three-year deal with the Seahawks. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who reached 1,000 yards and made his first Pro Bowl in 2024, told reporters recently that it's been great to have Kupp around heading into the coming season. "He brings a next-level mindset,' Smith-Njigba said, via Ari Horton of the team's website. 'I'm super excited to be with him in that receiver room. Another stellar receiver, great receiver, and I'm just blessed to be in the room with him." Kupp has struggled with injuries since his stellar 2021 season, playing in 12 games in each of the last two years. In 2024, he caught 67 passes for 710 yards with six touchdowns.
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Cooper Kupp brings a next-level mindset
For the last eight seasons, Cooper Kupp has been a major contributor to the Rams — winning Super Bowl MVP to cap the 2021 season. But now he's with one of his former team's biggest rivals, signing a three-year deal with the Seahawks. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who reached 1,000 yards and made his first Pro Bowl in 2024, told reporters recently that it's been great to have Kupp around heading into the coming season. 'He brings a next-level mindset,' Smith-Njigba said, via Ari Horton of the team's website. 'I'm super excited to be with him in that receiver room. Another stellar receiver, great receiver, and I'm just blessed to be in the room with him.' Kupp has struggled with injuries since his stellar 2021 season, playing in 12 games in each of the last two years. In 2024, he caught 67 passes for 710 yards with six touchdowns.
Fox Sports
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Expect A Shiftier Puka Nacua As He Takes On Larger Role For Rams In Year 3
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is already one of the league's best when it comes to making highlight-reel-worthy contested catches on a weekly basis. Now, it's time for him to level up in Year 3. "I would say definitely movement off the line of scrimmage," Nacua told me on what he's worked on this offseason. "The opportunity to work with Davante Adams, if you can get off with a clean release it makes the play work a lot better. So, I would say Coach [Sean] McVay would like how I'm moving at the line of scrimmage. "But also, just to clean up the picture for Matthew Stafford. His ability to put the ball anywhere gives me a lot of confidence that I can run a route and put my foot in the ground anywhere and know that I'm going to be in the right spot. So, the lateral quickness and the ability to move people – whether it's at the line of scrimmage or at the top of the route – has been something that I've been trying to work on." Nacua, who spoke with me courtesy of Gatorade as he welcomed the Gatorade National Players of the Year in an event in Los Angeles last week, has already proven in his young career that when he wants to improve one area of his game, he does so. The BYU product finished with 13 drops during a historic rookie season in 2023, in which he set an NFL rookie record at that time with 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. After that impressive season, Nacua worked on improving the consistency of his hands and had only one drop in 2024. While Nacua improved in that area of his game, he dealt with injuries during the 2024 season. He was slowed by a knee injury suffered during training camp, missing five games, but still finished with 79 catches for 990 yards and three touchdowns. As he looks to be more elusive in 2025, Nacua said he has benefited from having the 32-year-old Adams on the roster and learning from one of the best route runners in the NFL. "His ability to take care of himself and the preparation is very awesome to watch," Nacua said about Adams. "And it gives you a blueprint to follow for the rest of my career. You've seen Cooper Kupp do it and Davante Adams do it now, and it's super cool. His change of pace on the football field is something you don't see from a lot of receivers, so it makes it super fun because after practice, when you watch the tape, you're seeing some bodies fall all over the field. And it's because of No. 17." Even though he's no longer teammates with Kupp (who was released by the Rams and signed with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason), Nacua and Kupp still worked out together this offseason in Los Angeles. Nacua said he appreciates the two remaining close and credits the Eastern Washington product for the productive start to his career with the Rams. "I know he was probably a little upset when I said we ran routes, and he didn't end up showing up at the facility," Nacua joked about Kupp. "So, it's probably something that we're both still getting used to, but it's been such a blessing that we built a relationship off the field as well. "And to be able to see his boys coming around at our workouts and hanging out with him. To be able to talk ball again and check in on him. He's been someone who's helped me in my career. He was right next to me from the moment I stepped into the NFL, so it was someone I enjoy picking up the phone and calling him." Despite the fact that he's produced at an elite level, Nacua still considers himself as the same guy who was drafted by the Rams with the last pick in the fifth round at No. 177 overall in 2023. And even with the departure of one of the strongest voices in the receiver room in Kupp, Nacua said he'll continue to lean on more veteran voices on the team like Rob Havenstein, Tyler Higbee, Stafford and Adams to lead the offense. "I definitely want to be the best and I'm chasing every opportunity when I go out there," Nacua said. "And I want every ball to come my way, as a receiver should say. But I know that I'm going to go out there and just do whatever the coach asks me to do because that's what I'm prepared to do." That said, Nacua does expect improved physicality from L.A.'s offense. McVay said during the offseason that he would like his offense to be more adaptable and versatile for the upcoming season. Part of that means running the ball more consistently. The Rams averaged 104 rushing yards a contest during the regular season last year, which was 24th in the NFL. Even worse, Los Angeles averaged 3.92 rushing yards per play, which was 31st in the league. "For me there's something I love about the game of football, and that's the physicality," Nacua said. "I've mentioned his name a couple times because I see him twice a year, and that's Nick Bosa. When you have an opportunity to block a guy like that, or you get to run a route against Jalen Ramsey or Darius Slay or whoever the corner might be, it makes Sundays really fun. "I enjoy Coach McVay's ability to put guys in different spots and put us in the right place on the football field to succeed. It makes the game of football really fun. Matthew Stafford doesn't miss any opportunity to let the football fly. So, we're going to be all over the place. People are going to be moving around and it's going to look like a well-organized show when the Rams are on offense." Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on X at @eric_d_williams. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cooper Kupp threw out the first pitch at the Mariners game on Sunday
This past Sunday was the annual Eastern Washington University day at T-Mobile Park. Alumni and current students from all over the Evergreen State (including yours truly) made their way to Seattle to enjoy an afternoon of Mariners baseball with their fellow Eagles. Of course, since it was EWU day, a familiar face was on deck to throw out the first pitch: Eastern legend and current Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp. I mean, who else could it have been? For the first time since he was torching opposing defenses on The Inferno at Roos Field, Kupp will once again be playing football in his home state. Naturally, he was not going to miss making an appearance when his alma mater was hosting an event in his new neighborhood. Kupp took the mound sporting a Cal Raleigh jersey, and delivered a strike to the Big Dumper himself. Unfortunately, the Mariners did not fare so well on Sunday. Seattle took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning, but a pitching collapse ultimately resulted in an eventual 11-3 blowout loss to the hated Houston Astros. However, the Mariners did win the weekend series against Houston, with victories in the prior two games and cut into their lead in the AL West. Currently, Seattle remains four games behind Houston for first place, but still hold one of the Wild Card spots. Regardless of outcome from Sunday's game, seeing Kupp on the field was a reminder of how great it is to see him "back home" with the Seahawks... and a reminder of what is yet to come for Seattle fans this year!
