Sarah Barshop, ESPN Employees Author
LOS ANGELES — Rams large receiver Cooper Kupp mentioned he’s conscious his identify has been talked about in commerce rumors earlier than the NFL’s Nov. 5 commerce deadline, however is concentrated on “being the very best LA Ram” that he might be.
When requested whether or not the Rams have spoken to him or his representatives about the potential for buying and selling him, Kupp mentioned, “Nothing actually. No. It’s that point of yr. There’s going to be rumors and issues that go round. I let that stuff, as a lot as I can, be within the background.”
“I am conscious of it, however on the finish of the day, I imply, I will be the place my ft are,” Kupp mentioned. “That is all I do know. I’ve a job to do right here. And I take loads of delight in giving all the pieces I can for the blokes on this constructing and with the ability to step on the sector understanding that I ready the very best that I can. And for seven and a half years I have been an LA Ram and I’ve taken that method each single day.
“And no matter occurs exterior of that, I’ve received to manage what I can management. And proper now which means being the very best LA Ram that I might be.”
Kupp has not performed since Week 2, when he sprained his ankle in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. In two video games earlier than his harm, he had 18 catches for 147 yards and a landing.
Kupp was estimated to be a full participant in apply on Tuesday, which was a walkthrough as a result of it’s a brief week. He’s anticipated to play Thursday night time in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings.
Kupp, who was not positioned on injured reserve, returned to apply final week and was listed as questionable to play in Week 7 in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders. The veteran receiver mentioned he ready as if he have been going to play on Sunday — together with his pre-game exercise at SoFi Stadium — earlier than being advised he was going to be inactive for the sport.
“There’s at all times a perception, at all times a perception that there is going to be an opportunity,” Kupp mentioned on Tuesday. “In order that was form of my mindset with that.”
Kupp mentioned he is not positive what his workload will probably be in opposition to the Vikings in his return, however that it is in the end as much as the coaches and the coaching employees to resolve.
“I do not like coming off the sector,” Kupp mentioned. “I might love to have the ability to play as a lot as I presumably might, and that is going to be my mindset. … And we have some guys which have performed some actually good soccer the final couple of weeks too, and determining what the very best grouping is, what the very best group of fellows, the way you need to get these guys on, off the sector, no matter it takes to get the LA Rams a ‘W’ is in the end what we need to do.”
Kupp, who missed 4 video games on injured reserve final season with a hamstring harm, mentioned he feels “assured” in his return.
“Having the ability to have a full offseason this yr and with the ability to construct that up and put the work in to set your self as much as go do one thing this yr,” he mentioned, “I really feel actual assured about with the ability to come again now understanding that I’ve that base and be capable of play actually good soccer.”
