The Los Angeles Rams will begin their season without Cooper Kupp on the field.
Kupp suffered another injury before the year began, and his return timeline remains to be seen.
In the aftermath of this announcement, many fans have voiced disdain for him missing time, especially those in the fantasy football community.
Matthew Stafford called this out during a recent press conference, shared by Ari Meirov.
“This is a human being too, who works his entire life and works more than anyone I know in the offseason,” Stafford said.
Matthew Stafford on Cooper Kupp: "Everybody sits there and says, 'Oh, he's not going to be on our fantasy team.' Like, this is a human being too who works his entire life and works more than anyone I know in the offseason. That’s tough as a human being." pic.twitter.com/SWppSPYMyr https://t.co/Kmrq2RDL8a
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 7, 2023
While he is also saddened by Kupp’s absence in this game, Stafford recognizes the human element of this game.
Fans tend to hide behind their phone or computer screens, keyboard warriors who are angry about one thing or another.
When it comes down to it, NFL players want to be on the field, competing in the sport they have worked their entire lives for.
Stafford believes that Kupp wouldn’t sit out unless he has to, as he’s working tirelessly to recover from this injury.
Without Kupp, Stafford could be put in a difficult position on an offense that struggled without him last year.
He’ll have to rely on unconventional options to make this offense run, at least until Kupp returns to play.
The Rams have plenty of pass-catchers behind Kupp on the depth chart.
While they might not be Stafford’s top choice, it is clear they will be utilized for at least the first week of the regular season, perhaps longer.
NEXT: Matthew Stafford Clarifies Comments About Younger Teammates
