Is Cooper Kupp playing today? Full injury update for the Rams wide receiver

The last time the LA Rams competed with WR Cooper Kupp on the football field, the team was suffering a humiliating blow-out defeat at the hands of the normally docile Arizona Cardinals. For several games after Kupp suffered a Week 2 high-ankle sprain, he continued to lead the team's receivers in both receptions and receiving yards.

Now here we are, Week 7, and the team is theoretically rested and ready to host the Las Vegas Raiders. And the big question is: Is WR Cooper Kupp playing today?

Reasons why Cooper Kupp will play

The LA Rams need a win, however they can manufacture one. And a surefire way to put their best foot forward is to get one of the offense's most dangerous weapons back on the football field. The chemistry between veteran QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp has been phenomenal since these two first synched up in 2021. Now in their fourth year together, no other receiver on the roster seems to possess the ability to be where his quarterback needs him to be.

And all week, Kupp has been focused on getting ready for this game. And interim reports suggested that he is trending in that direction:

Coming out of a BYE week, the team has had two weeks to work with Kupp to prepare him to resume his participation in the offense. The team did not send Kupp to IR, anticipating that he would be medically cleared to play in Week 7. Now that he is here, many hope that he will indeed suit up for this one.

Reasons why Cooper Kupp won't play

Ah, yes. There is always the flip side. And the LA Rams have every reason to be doubly cautious about how soon the team activates Kupp for game day. After all, we know that once the Rams have Kupp as an option to throw to, that is what the offense will do, almost exclusively. Kupp was targetted 27 times in 1.5 games. There is no way that he sees fewer than 15 passes when he is back out there.

So the team has to ensure that he not only can suit up, but be confident that Kupp can handle being a primary target when he does. I'm not convinced he is THAT prepared. And per the latest word on Kupp, the team may not think so either.

But there is more to the story. Should the Rams risk injury to Cooper Kupp in Week 7? Or should the team play it safe and save him for the upcoming TNF game against the Minnesota Vikings? It makes far more sense to save Kupp for Week 8, and simply break out their 12-personnel package to use against the Raiders. But there are other reasons for the team to sit Kupp this week.

The LA Rams are getting trade calls about Kupp. With successful trades of Cleveland Browns WR Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders WR Devante Adams to the New York Jets, Cooper Kupp is now attracting a lot of interest from NFL teams.

While I would not say the Rams are likely to trade him, the front office would be foolish not to listen to offers. After all, the team is struggling, has been successful at finding young receivers like Puka Nacua and Jordan Whittington, and Kupp is injury prone:

So what's the final verdict?

Final Verdict:

I expect to see Cooper Kupp's name appear on the team's Week 7 inactive list once again. He is still trying to get better, the team has a short week to prepare for Week 8, and NFL rumors over Cooper Kupp are red hot right now. Unless you have the option to flip players on your Fantasy Football team in Week 7 for late games, I'd sit Kupp this week.

As always, thanks for read

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