Puka Nacua, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, has been keeping busy during the offseason, opting to train with his teammate and star receiver Cooper Kupp. Their workouts, held at Kupp’s home, left a lasting impression on Nacua, who didn’t shy away from acknowledging the intensity of Kupp’s training regimen.
Nacua recalled the challenging conditioning sessions, noting that they pushed him to his limits, sometimes resulting in him feeling ill. Despite the discomfort, Nacua appreciated the experience and credited Kupp’s structured approach to training for keeping him focused and motivated.
Kupp’s dedication to training is well-documented, reflecting his journey from being overlooked in high school recruitment to becoming one of the NFL’s elite receivers.
In the 2021 season, Kupp achieved remarkable success, clinching the league’s “triple crown” for most receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns during the regular season. His MVP performance in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory further solidified his status as a top-tier talent in the league.
Cooper Kupp’s Relentless Work Ethic Inspires Teammates and Sets High Standards
The relentless work ethic and commitment to improvement demonstrated by Kupp serve as an inspiration to his teammates, like Nacua, and underscore the importance of dedication both on and off the field in achieving success at the highest level of professional football.
“He’s not going to go to sleep before he gets something done,” Titans cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (who trained with Kupp when both players entered the NFL in 2017). “He’s at the facility all the time, trying to get better film-wise.
“And then when he goes home, it doesn’t stop there. It continues. That may continue for eight hours, nine hours, I don’t know. I just know he’s a real football junkie — like a true football junkie.”
Kupp seems to have regained his All-Pro level of performance following two injury-plagued seasons. Nacua, who filled in admirably for Kupp during his absences last year, expressed his ongoing efforts to meet the high standards set by Kupp despite his own impressive rookie season statistically.
“He set the standard for us in the wide receiver room and for a lot of receivers in the NFL.,” Nacua said. “I mean, to be the triple-crown winner. I just mentioned it to him not too long ago, I don’t know how wide receivers have won a Super Bowl MVP. “The standard is still set very high, and I don’t think I’m close to reaching it.”
