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The Rams’ Cooper Kupp catches a touchdown pass behind the Vikings secondary in the receiver’s return to action after missing four games.. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
During the offseason, Cooper Kupp co-founded a coffee company.
And when the veteran Rams receiver returned to the lineup Thursday night after a four-game absence, the recently moribund offense anticipated a welcome jolt.
What it got was an unexpected double shot.
Receiver Puka Nacua also returned to the lineup and the two stars helped the Rams defeat the Minnesota Vikings 30-20 before 72,127 at SoFi Stadium.
Kupp caught a touchdown pass and Nacua amassed 106 yards receiving as the Rams won their second game in a row and improved their record to 3-4.
Rams receiver Puka Nacua (17) catches a pass as Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore (2) pursues. Nacua returned from injury to catch seven passes for 106 yards. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Matthew Stafford tossed two touchdown passes to receiver Demarcus Robinson, one to Kupp and one to running back Kyren Williams, and rookie edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young sparked the defense as the Rams followed last 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 team that defeated the Raiders 20-15 and gave players confidence that they could repeat last season’s turnaround from a 3-6 start that ended in the playoffs.
But that probably could not happen without Kupp and Nacua — as well as several other projected starters still on injured reserve.
Kupp, who had been sidelined because of an ankle injury, caught five passes for 51 yards and drew several pass-interference penalties. Nacua, activated Thursday after spending five games on injured reserve because of a knee injury, caught seven passes.
The question now is whether the Rams will ponder trading Kupp with an NFC West game against the Seattle Seahawks coming up next on Nov. 3 — two days…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/cooper-kupp-puka-nacuas-return-032653120.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-10-25 03:26:53
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