Cooper Kupp from the Rams scores in return; McVay expects WR to stay

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – For the first time since Week 1, the Los Angeles Rams had receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua on the field together in the team's 30-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.

Rams coach Sean McVay wants it to stay that way. Amid reports that the Rams had approached teams about trading Kupp ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline, McVay said he was “really happy” to have him back on the field.

“And I expect it to stay that way,” McVay said.

Kupp, who had been out since spraining his left ankle in Week 2, had five catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. Nacua led the team with seven catches for 106 yards and nine scores.

“Teams have been in touch,” McVay said when asked about the trade speculation. “Some of the things I’ve seen out there just aren’t true.”

Kupp said he doesn't “think about those things” but said all the stuff going on outside the facility is “kind of cool,” but in a short week I spent every minute preparing for it and getting ready to get out here and play.

“And so I had the opportunity to focus on being where I am, preparing as best I could and coming here and taking it in,” Kupp said. “And all that stuff is what it is.”

While the Rams expected to get Kupp back after he was inactive in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders, the team kept Nacua's return closer to the vest. Nacua sprained his posterior cruciate ligament in Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve. The Rams began his 21-day practice window to return from IR on Tuesday and activated him before Thursday's game.

McVay said he learned Monday from vice president of sports medicine and performance Reggie Scott that Nacua might play this week instead of waiting until Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks.

“(Nacua) said, 'I don't know, I feel pretty good,'” McVay said. “He went to a training session where he ran routes and did a great job. His movements looked good. I talked to him and said, 'Would you like to try to give this a chance?' And he said yes.

McVay, who has preached the importance of “return to performance” vs. “return to play” when discussing players returning from injury, said Nacua “showed he was ready for that performance.”

“And this guy's mindset, his mentality… he's a war dad, he's a stud,” McVay said. “I love his energy in the game and what he brings to the table. He was ready to play tonight and had a big impact on the game.”

Due to the short week, Nacua was unable to participate in any padded training. Quarterback Matthew Stafford said he's seen Nacua “throw one, maybe two balls in practice this week, and that's the first time since the first game.”

It was Nacua's eighth career game (of 19 played) with 100 receiving yards. According to ESPN Research, that number is tied with Minnesota's Justin Jefferson, who scored the second-most games in a player's first 20 career games in the Super Bowl era.

According to ESPN Research, the Rams scored a season-high 30 points on Thursday, ending a streak of 10 consecutive games with fewer than 30 points.

And while McVay said “everyone had a hand” in the win, there's no doubt about the “spark” and “energy” that the return of Kupp and Nacua brought to the offense.

“There's a confidence, there's a comfort, there's a relationship that's been built over the years with Matthew and Cooper and then Puka and Matthew last year and then leading into this season,” McVay said. “And these guys are ballers.

“And Matthew brought out the best in everyone. But I thought Puka and Cooper were ready to go. You left an impression.”