Who Should I Start? Cooper Kupp or Deebo Samuel

Monday, October 21, 6:36 PM

The Los Angeles Rams listed wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) as a full participant on Monday's estimated practice report ahead of their Week 8 game this Thursday night against the Minnesota Vikings. The Rams fully expect Kupp to play on Thursday night for the first time since spraining his ankle in Week 2, but head coach Sean McVay said that Kupp's workload in his first game back is "to be determined." It will likely depend on good the 31-year-old veteran wideout looks over the next couple of days in practice. And even then, Kupp will carry a decent amount of risk in his first game back. Before his injury, Kupp was looking more like the version of himself that won Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, catching 18 of his 27 targets for 147 yards and a touchdown. With Puka Nacua (knee) still on Injured Reserve, too, Kupp should be heavily targeted whenever he is on the field.

Monday, October 21, 7:20 PM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday that wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness) was sent to the hospital with fluid in his lungs and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Samuel played just four offensive snaps before leaving the Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and never returning on Sunday, and Shanahan said there's no timetable for the 28-year-old's return, meaning he could miss the Week 8 contest against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Meanwhile, Brandon Aiyuk tore his right ACL and MCL on Sunday and is out for the rest of the season. Jauan Jennings (hip) missed the Week 7 game, but he's expected to return this Sunday and could be quarterback Brock Purdy's WR1 if Samuel is out. Rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing and Ronnie Bell could also be thrust into bigger roles moving forward, pending the health of Samuel.