Through the offseason, Cooper Kupp co-founded a espresso firm.
And when the veteran Rams receiver returned to the lineup Thursday evening after a four-game absence, the just lately moribund offense anticipated a welcome jolt.
What it acquired was an surprising double shot.
Receiver Puka Nacua additionally returned to the lineup and the 2 stars helped the Rams defeat the Minnesota Vikings 30-20 earlier than 72,127 at SoFi Stadium.
Kupp caught a landing cross and Nacua amassed 106 yards receiving because the Rams gained their second recreation in a row and improved their report to 3-4.
Rams receiver Puka Nacua makes a catch in opposition to Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore within the fourth quarter. Nacua returned from harm to catch seven passes for 106 yards.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Occasions)
Matthew Stafford tossed two landing passes to receiver Demarcus Robinson, one to Kupp and one to working again Kyren Williams, and rookie edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Younger sparked the protection because the Rams adopted final Sunday’s victory over the Las Vegas Raiders by handing the Vikings (5-2) their second consecutive defeat.
Kupp’s and Nacua’s performances buoyed a group that defeated the Raiders 20-15 and gave gamers confidence that they might repeat final season’s turnaround from a 3-6 begin that ended within the playoffs.
However that most likely couldn’t occur with out Kupp and Nacua — in addition to a number of different projected starters nonetheless on injured reserve.
Kupp, who had been sidelined due to an ankle harm, caught 5 passes for 51 yards and drew a number of pass-interference penalties. Nacua, activated Thursday after spending 5 video games on injured reserve due to a knee harm, caught seven passes.
The query now’s whether or not the Rams will ponder buying and selling Kupp with an NFC West recreation in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks arising subsequent on Nov. 3 — two days earlier than the NFL commerce deadline.
The 2021 NFL offensive participant of the 12 months spent the early a part of the week answering questions on hypothesis that the Rams may transfer on due to their poor begin and Kupp’s big contract.
“I’ve got to control what I can control,” he mentioned Tuesday. “And right now that means being the best L.A. Ram I can be and I’m going to continue to do that.”
Whereas Kupp’s return Thursday evening was anticipated, Nacua’s was one thing of a shock. The second-year professional had been on injured reserve due to a training-camp knee harm he aggravated within the season-opening defeat to the Detroit Lions.
Nacua didn’t follow final week, and the Rams opened his 21-day window to return Monday. He was listed as restricted after jog-throughs Tuesday and Wednesday.
However about 4 hours earlier than kickoff, the Rams introduced that Nacua had been activated to the roster. He was not on the listing of inactive gamers that was launched 90 minutes earlier than the sport, nevertheless it was nonetheless unclear how a lot, if in any respect, Nacua may play.
Nacua began and, after dropping a cross on the primary play, went on to appear like the participant who established NFL rookie receiving information in 2023.
The Rams’ Kyren Williams (proper) celebrates his landing catch in opposition to the Vikings with Colby Parkinson. Williams additionally ran for 97 yards.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Occasions)
Stafford, who had entered the sport with solely three landing passes this season, accomplished 25 of 34 passes for 279 yards and the 4 touchdowns with an interception.
Kyren Williams rushed for 97 yards in 23 carries.
The rating was tied 14-14 at halftime after Stafford tossed landing passes to Williams and Kupp, and Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold related with tight finish Josh Oliver and receiver Trent Sherfield Sr. for landing cross performs.
Early within the third quarter, Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. intercepted a Stafford cross. The Vikings appeared on their solution to a landing when Jefferson made a spectacular sideline catch on the Rams’ four-yard line, however the Rams pressured the Vikings to accept a subject purpose and a 17-14 lead.
Stafford rebounded from the interception to place the Rams within the lead. Mid-range passes to Tutu Atwell and Nacua arrange a 25-yard landing cross to Robinson and a 21-17 lead.
After one other Vikings subject purpose, Kupp drew a pass-interference penalty that arrange Stafford’s 10-yard landing cross to Robinson, extending the result in eight factors.
With lower than two minutes left, Younger sacked Darnold ultimately zone for a security that gave the Rams their closing 10-point margin. Tv replays appeared to indicate that Younger had grabbed Darnold’s facemask on the deal with, however the officers didn’t spot the penalty and the play was not reviewable.
