Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp absent from Rams OTAs

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As the Rams try to put a terrible 2022 season behind them, two of their most important players will be absent from the start of Organized Team Activities.

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald and receiver Cooper Kupp are out.

They had some family stuff that they’re taking care of,” said coach Sean McVay to reporters. “It’s been consistent. We know about this for a long time. These guys are engaged. Aaron is here for the early parts of [the offseason program], but it was always part of the plan to be with his family a little bit and some of the things he had to handle. And then hopefully sooner rather than later, Cooper and Anna are expecting their third [child]. But those guys did a great job of communicating, staying engaged, and they knew everything that was going on, so [I] feel good about that dialogue existing.

McVay was also asked if he believes Kupp will participate in all OTAs, once his son is born.

I think we’re just going to take it one day at a time,” McVay said. “Every time he comes back, we’re going to be smart about how we onboard him and get him back up to speed. He’s that type of guy, he’s got a lot of doing, keeping himself ready to go. But in his absence . . . you get a lot of younger or some of these guys who can establish a relationship with Matthew [Stafford]. Talking about whether Van [Jefferson]It’s a tutu [Atwell]Book [Nacua]Ben [Skowronek], guys are getting opportunities, with some of the new tight ends that we have, just to feel and for Matthew to be able to establish and build a relationship that we didn’t get a chance to do last year and that’s always an opportunity can improve. So those guys are ready to go, I know they’re doing the right thing by themselves and when they come back to us, we’re obviously excited about that as well.

Honestly, it would be nice to think for Stafford to be comfortable throwing to receivers other than Cooper Kupp, as Stafford sometimes seems to treat Kupp as a crutch.

Good thing Donald wasn’t there. As GM Les Snead told us a few years ago during a Donald holdout, it’s impossible to conduct a walk-through practice with Donald around, because even in that setting he’s unstoppable and disruptive.

Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp absent from Rams OTAs originally appeared on Pro Football Talk

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