2 weeks Ago By Alan Saunders, Steelers Now
The Los Angeles Rams got wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back into the lineup, and then went out and upset the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football, turning their season around and making it less likely that Kupp will be available to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the trade deadline. Kupp had been out since Week 2 with an ankle injury and Nacua since Week 1 with a PCL sprain in his knee. With both starting receivers down, the Rams got off to a 2-4 start to the 2024 season, threatening to fall out of contention in a very competitive NFC West.
But that all changed on Thursday. With Kupp and Nacua back, quarterback Matt Stafford posted a season-best 124.5 passer rating against the Vikings, completing 25 of 34 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns.
Nacua trapped seven catches for 106 yards, while Kupp had five for 51 and a score. Third receiver Demarcus Robinson caught just two passes, but both went for touchdowns. 4 drives, 4 touchdowns so far on #TNF .
Matthew Stafford makes magic happen and finds Cooper Kupp in the end zone for a Rams TD. It's 14-14. #NFL pic.
twitter.com/lQvzaV6adO https://t.co/xDiAmL0wTp — The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 25, 2024 With the victory over the previously 5-1 Vikings, the Rams moved to 3-4 and into a three-way tie with the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers for second place in the NFC West.
Division-leading Seattle (4-3) has a tough test against the 5-2 Buffalo Bills on Sunday, meaning that the Rams could be just a half-game out of first place at the end of the week. The Rams and Seahawks play one another in Week 9 before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 5.
Kupp is one of a number of receivers reported to possibly be available on the trade market, with Diana Russini of The Athletic reporting that L.A. general manager Les Snead had called other teams to see if the Rams could make a deal for Kupp.
The Rams were so motivated to find a deal that they reportedly offered to absorb some of the remainder of his $15 million salary to get a trade done. The Steelers were reportedly one of the teams in contact with the Rams about Kupp. But that will likely change now with the upset win over the Vikings, and hope for a divisional turnaround next week.
This article first appeared on Steelers Now and was syndicated with permission..
