RENTON, Wash. (AP) — When it comes to dining recommendations in the Seattle area, newly acquired Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp is open to ideas.
Just not from him.
The experienced quarterback invited Kupp to dinner earlier this offseason, and some of the suggestions surprised the 31-year-old wide receiver, who reflected on the evening after the first of two minicamp practices at Virginia Mason Athletic Center, which wrapped up Wednesday.
“The way he came off was he wanted to go get some fries and chicken strips,” Kupp shared on Tuesday. “Look, I have a 6-year-old. I can bring you his food. I can bring that, and I’ll go eat something good. It ended up being fine. He ventured out and was, like, OK. He was at least willing to try some stuff. I may have misread him. We’ll see. Time will tell.”
Time will also reveal how well Kupp adjusts to a new franchise after spending the previous eight seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. In some respects, it’s a familiar challenge.
He still has plenty to learn, however, following all those years with an NFC West competitor. Kupp described joining a new team as “exciting.”
“It’s been a long time since I learned a new offense, a long time since I sat in a meeting and had to put a face on the board and what’s this guy’s name?” Kupp explained. “That’s a stressful situation. That’s a high-stress situation. It’s good, though. I’m excited about what we’re doing, and it is fun.”
He is looking forward to collaborating with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, whose system shares some similarities with that of the Rams and their head coach, Sean McVay, as well as with San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s scheme. Kubiak served as the 49ers’ passing game coordinator in 2023, when Darnold was also with the team.
“There are going to be nuances here and there, things like that, but a lot of similar concepts, a lot of similar ideas in how you’re attacking a defense,” Kupp noted. “I believe in this offense and what it takes to make it successful and the detail that’s involved with it. … There are definitely some elements that highlight the things I’ve done in the past.”
Kupp’s track record speaks for itself — although he has faced challenges with injuries recently. In each of the past three seasons, he has not played more than 12 games, which contributed to the Rams allowing the Super Bowl 56 MVP to depart in free agency.
Kupp expressed feeling good physically, looking the part during minicamp as he ran routes. He faces a significant challenge in integrating into a receiver group led by third-year wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who just completed his first 1,000-yard season.
Veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is also part of the team, having spent half of last season under Kubiak’s guidance when he was the New Orleans Saints’ offensive coordinator. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald has been impressed with how both wideouts approach learning Seattle’s offense.
“They’re attacking every day, man,” Macdonald stated. “Just trying to master the playbook, all the formations, all the route steps, all the timing. If you have that spirit about you every day, I mean, it’s contagious, one, with the rest of the room, the rest of the offense, the whole team. It makes it enjoyable to go to work and embrace the process. But, of course, that’s going to expedite your growth when you have guys like that.”
Still, Kupp acknowledges he has much to learn ahead of the Seahawks’ season opener on Sept. 7 against the 49ers. That’s partly why he’s been spending considerable time in Macdonald’s office, absorbing his insights.
Kupp has relished settling in with a new team, and he appreciates the internal belief that resonates deeply with him.
“For any of this to work, for all the goals and things we want to achieve, it’s built on the understanding that we’re ultimately going to achieve it together,” Kupp said. “It’s going to be playing for each other. … Man, what can I do to be better for the guy next to me? This is a place that embodies that belief. I think it creates a fun environment to come into and an enjoyable place to work.”
Image Source: Cooper Kupp @ Instagram
