3 LA Rams receivers with golden opportunity after Cooper Kupp injury

A season after the L.A. Rams saw star wide receiver Cooper Kupp go down with an injury, the bad news has already doubled up.

Kupp suffered a hamstring injury on Tuesday, during training camp, and a source close to the situation speculates that he could be out "several weeks."

While Kupp's evaluation and recovery timeline are still ongoing, his injury now gives way for a few guys to step up and take advantage of a golden opportunity. It's not every day that you have the chance to try and fill the shoes of such a phenomenal talent, but these three guys now have just that.

1. Puka Nacua

In the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Rams selected BYU wide receiver Puka Nacua. The 6-foot-2 wideout came into the league as a late-round prospect with some valuable traits. Although he doesn't appear elite in the speed or quickness categories, Nacua has always been far above average in a few others that count.

Nacua has a background in basketball, and is not afraid to go up and challenge for those tougher, contested catches. He relishes those opportunities, in fact.

But, where he could really stand out in Kupp's absence is his ability to gain yards after the catch. He's as competitive as it gets and plays extremely physical after securing a grab. His size allows for him to overpower would-be tacklers and gain additional yardage, which is very valuable to have in a slot receiver.

Between his four years at Washington and BYU, Nacua averaged over 16 yards per reception and even ran the ball 39 times for over nine yards per tote. He's a versatile weapon and could really shine if given a bit more opportunity in the near future.