5 players who need to play large role in LA Rams success this season

III: WR Cooper Kupp

There has always been that perception of less-than-optimal durability when Rams fans view the career of veteran All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp. In truth, if Cooper Kupp can remain healthy and compete in every game in an NFL season, the sky is the limit for Kupp. But in his seven-year NFL career, Kupp has only been able to suit up for every game on the schedule twice in his career.

In 2019, Kupp played in 16 games, caught 94 passes for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns. That was impressive. But in 2021, Kupp played in all 17 games, caught 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. That shattered the Rams Franchise All-Time Single-Season Receiving Records, and flirted with setting new NFL records as well.

So keeping Kupp healthy is a good thing for this team.

The good news for 2024 is that the Rams seem to have found an optimal blending of receivers, all of who hold toughness, route running, blocking, and yards after the catch as their core priniples. But each receiver has a different style that complicates opposing secondaries' jobs of corralling the Rams wide outs in games.

But to be optimally effective this season, the team will need Kupp to not only be productive, but to be durable as well. Can this offense keep their hands out of the Cooper Kupp cookie jar long enough to sustain a healthy balance of targeting multiple players? Will the team learn to set up the pass with a valiant and stubborn ground attack?

The benefits of keeping Cooper Kupp upright all season are rather obvious. The question is, can the team, and Kupp, resist the urge to overwork early in the season, leaving little left in the tank when the post-season arrives?