Los Angeles Rams All-Pro Makes Long-Awaited Return to Practice

The Los Angeles Rams are trying to put a disastrous 2022 season behind them, and that begins with getting their superstars back on track. Wide receiver and 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp finally returned to practice earlier this week, putting him on track for a healthy training camp and a bounce-back 2023 season.

The Cooper Kupp comeback 🚀 pic.twitter.com/0Lo46PdSGx
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) June 8, 2023

Kupp suffered a severe high-ankle sprain in Week 10 of 2022 that ended up costing him the final eight games of the Rams' season. Kupp stated earlier this week that he was "feeling really good" and poised for a full recovery.

The Rams stumbled following their thrilling 2021 Super Bowl win, finishing the 2022 regular season with a 5-12 record and ranking 27th in points scored. Still, Kupp was hardly to blame. He remained nearly at the top of his game when available; over his nine appearances, he totalled an impressive 75 catches with a robust 90.2 receiving yards per game.

When healthy, Kupp is arguably the league's best wide receiver. Kupp's 2021 season was one of the greatest the position has ever seen and saw him lead the league in catches (145), receiving yards (1947), and receiving touchdowns (16). Beyond that, no player was more crucial to the Rams' Super Bowl run: he nabbed a staggering 33 catches for 478 yards and six touchdowns over their four postseason wins.

The Rams still retain much of the core that made them champions in 2021; in addition to Kupp, quarterback Matthew Stafford and all-world defensive tackle Aaron Donald are both healthy entering training camp. Still, that was true last year, and the Rams will enter 2023 without six-time Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey after trading him to the Miami Dolphins earlier this offseason. With any luck, the Rams will improve on an ugly 2022, but they're a long way from contending again.