49ers on Rams: 'It’s the Cooper Kupp present, like no make a difference how you test to slice it up'

He is not pointed out as a receiver who basically blows past defenders on his way to the conclusion zone.

But with the ball in his hands — this time on a jet sweep, not after catching a pass — Cooper Kupp seemingly found a new equipment.

During very last Sunday’s victory in excess of the Arizona Cardinals, Kupp took a handoff from quarterback Matthew Stafford on a misdirection participate in and ran close to the still left conclude 20 yards for his to start with occupation dashing landing.

“I nevertheless never simply call myself a blazer or everything like that,” Kupp stated Friday, “but I’m fast more than enough to get around the corner occasionally. I give myself sufficient credit score to be able to do that.”

The Rams (2-1) will need to have Kupp at his most effective Monday night time when they play the San Francisco 49ers (1-2) at Levi’s Stadium.

The Rams have not defeated the 49ers in Santa Clara due to the fact the 2018 period.

Previous January, in the NFC championship recreation, Kupp caught 11 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-17 victory above the 49ers at SoFi Stadium. The acquire ended a 6-sport losing streak against the 49ers and sent the Rams to Super Bowl LVI, wherever they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kupp caught two landing passes — and converted a vital fourth down on a jet sweep — in the 23-20 victory around the Bengals, and was voted Super Bowl most precious player.

Kupp, the reigning NFL offensive player of the year, is on pace quite possibly to improve on previous season, when he accomplished the so-identified as triple crown by top the league with 145 catches for 1,947 yards acquiring and 16 touchdown catches.

In 3 video games this time, he has 28 catches for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns — and the dashing landing in opposition to the Cardinals. In the 1st a few online games of the 2021 season, Kupp had 25 catches for 367 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Kupp ranks second driving Miami’s Tyreek Hill, who has 31 catches, but Hill has performed 4 games.

“I consider not to feel about past 12 months so considerably [as] I just try out to go out and do my work,” Kupp reported when asked if felt like he picked up in which he still left off in 2021, incorporating, “I can normally be far better, without the need of a doubt that stands true now.

“I’d like to consider I’m a far better football player than I was a year in advance of but there’s so considerably stuff I can a do [a] superior career of for this group and that’s my attitude.”

With Van Jefferson on wounded reserve, the Rams’ receiving corps contains Kupp, new addition Allen Robinson, 2nd-12 months pro Ben Skowronek, Brandon Powell and second-calendar year pro Tutu Atwell.

But Kupp stays Stafford’s key target.

“It’s the Cooper Kupp clearly show, like no make any difference how you check out to slice it up, whether or not the men are doubling, no matter what it is, the guy finds a way,” 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans informed Bay Location reporters Friday. “I feel the relationship and chemistry with him and Stafford is a person of the finest I have found in the league in a extensive time.

“Those fellas are often in sync.”

Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is happy he does not have to scheme against Kupp.

“He is with no a doubt at a diverse amount than most,” Morris said. “The volume of do the job that he puts into it, the quantity of work that he seems at your protection and is aware of what is taking place, the volume of get the job done that he puts into it with Stafford.”

Kupp’s landing run against the Cardinals harked to previous seasons, when Kupp and former Rams receiver Robert Woods ran jet sweeps.

Now, defensive coordinators must account for Kupp as a scoring risk in the operate match.

“The way that perform was executed was this kind of a significant level — it was so tricky for the defenders to see where by the ball in fact was,” Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen stated. “You put that on tape, now they have to honor it all over the week.”

Kupp is at ease working jet sweeps — and what ever else coach Sean McVay and his personnel set up.

“Anytime you get the ball in your hands, you like that,” Kupp mentioned. “Any opportunity to make a engage in for this crew, I’m on board for it.”

Etcetera.

Cornerbacks David Lengthy (groin) and Cobie Durant (hamstring) and offensive lineman David Edwards (illness) did not practice, and safety Jordan Fuller (hamstring) was minimal, in accordance to the Rams damage report. Cornerback Derion Kendrick (concussion) was a full participant.