The Los Angeles Rams are really hoping their top receiver will be back on the field soon. The Las Vegas Raiders are starting to adjust to playing without their best wide receiver.
Both teams, which have struggled this season without their star players, will face off on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. The Rams (1-4) are set to host the Raiders (2-4) in a game featuring two of Los Angeles’ favorite NFL teams.
Cooper Kupp is eager to play again after spraining his ankle in Week 2. The Rams have had a rough start this season, which is the worst under coach Sean McVay. Rookie Puka Nacua, who had been setting records, has also been sidelined with a knee injury since Week 1. Kupp’s presence is crucial for the Rams, both on the field and in the locker room.
“There’s just a calming presence when a guy like Cooper Kupp is on the field,” said Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. “He’s been there, he’s done that.
He understands the game really well, seeing small details in defenses and sharing that information with the coaches. That’s why he’s been so successful. He’s a great athlete and receiver, but his understanding of the game is pretty special.”
McVay has recognized the challenges of moving the ball without the Super Bowl 56 MVP, noting that Kupp’s absence has significantly changed how he calls plays.
“I’ve been with Cooper for eight years, and there’s a certain comfort,” McVay said. “I know what he does well and where he can add value in many situations. Not having him certainly changes things.”
In their first game since Tom Brady became a minority owner, the Raiders will see how they perform without receiver Davante Adams, a six-time Pro Bowler who was traded to the Jets on Tuesday.
Adams has been out for the last three games due to a hamstring injury, and Las Vegas hasn’t scored more than 20 points in a game without him.
Coach Antonio Pierce benched Gardner Minshew last week and put Aidan O’Connell in, who helped lead the Raiders to a strong finish last season that earned Pierce the head coach position.
However, neither quarterback for Vegas usually compares to Matthew Stafford, who seems to be back to health after dealing with back pain before the Rams’ bye week.
“He can throw the ball from anywhere, everywhere, every angle,” Pierce said. “We go against Patrick Mahomes twice a year, and if you need a good warm-up for Patrick coming up in a couple of weeks, it’s good to go up against a Matthew Stafford.”
