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Sarah Barshop, ESPN Workers Author
SEATTLE — Because the Los Angeles Rams ready for his or her journey to Seattle, huge receiver Tutu Atwell needed to verify Cooper Kupp, who had been dominated out with a hamstring damage, could be on the sideline towards the Seahawks.
“I stated, ‘Be sure to can come,'” Atwell stated. “It is similar to a second eye. What I can not see, he can see. And I simply ask him questions off the sector, and he is an awesome, nice particular person. And I recognize him for that.”
With Kupp close by, Atwell (six catches) and rookie huge receiver Puka Nacua (10 catches) every had 119 receiving yards within the Rams' 30-13 win over the Seahawks on Sunday. Nacua set a franchise report for receiving yards in a primary profession sport, and the pair had been the primary Rams teammates to every have a minimum of 100 receiving yards in a season opener since Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce in 2003, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Info.
“I am so pleased with these guys, however I am not shocked,” Rams coach Sean McVay stated. “That is what Tutu Atwell had been doing, going months again. And I believed he actually began to play with lots of confidence in direction of the latter a part of final yr when he bought his alternatives that had been earned.
“Puka Nacua has are available and he is as mature a rookie as I've ever been round. And he's a bodily, robust, sturdy participant. He is bought a good way about himself. And each of these guys stepped up.”
The Rams will likely be with out Kupp for a minimum of three extra video games after he was positioned on injured reserve Saturday.
Within the locker room after the sport, Nacua could not preserve a smile off his face, noting he hadn't even had an opportunity to name his mom and the remainder of his household.
“I can not wait to [call them],” Nacua stated. “I do know they're watching and hopefully screaming, but it surely was simply … that is soccer heaven for me.”
Nacua stated he tried to not put extra stress on himself due to Kupp's absence however that he appreciated having “a second coach” in Kupp on the sideline.
“It is all the time good to have him on the sector, however then when he is not, the extent of communication he has takes one other step to having the ability to verify we perceive,” Nacua stated. “And after we're coming again and we're checking the iPads and stuff like that, he is the primary one there saying, ‘Hey,' both ‘good job' or ‘that is what I am seeing and that is what I am .' Coop's the person. I like that man. I really feel like I am blessed to be on this state of affairs.”
Nacua, a fifth-round decide, had probably the most receiving yards for a participant drafted within the fifth spherical or later (or undrafted) in his NFL debut since 2000, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Info.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford accomplished 24 of 38 passes for 334 yards, his eighth 300-yard passing sport in a season opener, tying Matt Ryan for the second-most such video games in NFL historical past. McVay stated Stafford checked “all of the bins” together with his efficiency Sunday, particularly praising the quarterback's command and communication towards Seattle.
Regardless of Los Angeles' success by the air, Stafford did not throw a landing; all three scores got here on the bottom, with two from operating again Kyren Williams and one from operating again Cam Akers.
Stafford praised Nacua as a “huge, bodily child who understands the sport,” however the rookie gave credit score to the workforce's different receivers, together with Atwell and Van Jefferson, for serving to to place him within the place he was in Sunday.
“They've helped speed up my studying,” Nacua stated. “It has been so enjoyable to get to ask questions. I hope they by no means get irritated with me. I've 4 older brothers, so I am used to being the annoying little brother, however they by no means make me really feel like that and all the time serving to me be taught.”
