LA may need to shake things up at WR for the playoffs

Cooper Kupp has never had such a stretch in his career.

In his last three games, Kupp has caught four passes for a total of 53 yards and no touchdowns. He was blanked in Week 15 against the 49ers, caught three passes for 24 yards against the Jets and had a 29-yard reception against Arizona.

Before his terrible December, Kupp never had fewer than six catches and 77 yards in a three-game span. As bad as his numbers have been recently, it’s not a complete anomaly for the star receiver over the last two years. In fact, it has become a somewhat worrying trend.

From 2017 to 2022, there was only one stretch in which Kupp had 10 or fewer catches and 100 or fewer yards in a three-game span. That happened in November 2019, when he caught nine passes for 88 yards in Weeks 10-12.

Since the start of the 2023 season, he has had three stretches of 10 or fewer catches and 100 or fewer receiving yards in a three-game span: Weeks 7-9 and Weeks 10-12 in 2023 and Weeks 15-17 this season.

The reality is that Kupp is no longer the receiver he once was. He had just one game with more than 60 yards in his last six games, posting four stat lines with fewer than four catches and fewer than 30 yards.

It’s time for the Rams to face facts and shake things up at wide receiver before their playoff appearance.

That doesn’t mean they have to bench Kupp and take him off the field completely. He’s still a valuable short-yardage chain player and contributes as a blocker in the run game, but at this point in his career he no longer threatens a defense like he once did.

For this reason, the Rams should give Jordan Whittington more opportunities. After catching 13 passes for 151 yards in Weeks 4 and 5, Whittington played 10 straight games without catching or even being targeted. His role disappeared after a shoulder injury in Week 5, which coincided with the return of Puka Nacua and Kupp in Week 8.

However, Whittington shone again in Sunday’s season finale. He caught three passes for 86 yards and also carried the ball twice for 12 yards on jet sweeps, scoring first downs both times – including a fourth-and-1 early in the game.

He took a 50-yard pass from Jimmy Garoppolo out and up with a beautiful double move that put the cornerback on the turf and left Whittington wide open down the left sideline.

Jimmy G to Whittington! Winning 50 on 3rd and 3rd

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Good things happen when he has the ball in his hands, and that has been the case all year. He just didn’t have many opportunities to actually possess the ball for some reason.

Strengthening a rookie’s role in the playoffs may be a bit risky, but the offense is struggling and Whittington showed on Sunday afternoon that he can make a splash. Whether it’s handoffs or screen passes, there are easy ways to get him the ball and let him use his speed and physicality to rack up hard-fought yards.

Jordan Whittington is racking up major success on the big screen!

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He was also great as a kick returner and showed what he can do with a little space in the open field.

With Kupp in slump and going through a cold snap, Whittington could be exactly what the Rams offense needs this postseason.