Cooper Kupp sounds off on playing on turf amid short week: 'I hate it'

Cooper Kupp, the Los Angeles Rams' star wide receiver, is no stranger to the NFL's turf wars. In Week 16, he isn't getting a break from the unforgiving synthetic field. The Rams are playing the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football at home after hosting the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium. That means back-to-back […]

Ian Kayanja

Dec 20, 2023 12:52 PM EST

Dec 10, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) catches a pass for a second quarter touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY — Feature image via Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY

Cooper Kupp, the Los Angeles Rams' star wide receiver, is no stranger to the NFL's turf wars.

In Week 16, he isn't getting a break from the unforgiving synthetic field.

The Rams are playing the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football at home after hosting the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium. That means back-to-back games on a turf field, something Kupp detests.

"I hate it,” Kupp said on playing on turf. "I’m not a fan of turf in general, and it’s tough going back-to-back on a short week. But it is what it is.

"I know people are certainly aware of it. If there’s going to be change that’s going to come, it’s not because people don’t know, you know? So it is what it is. Like I said, it’s the same thing about playing Thursday night. Everyone’s got to do it. Everyone’s got to get it done on turf and just part of this game, and you got to deal with it.”

Cooper Kupp today, on preparing for two games in a short week on artificial turf: “As you know, I hate it. I am not a fan of turf in general. It’s obviously tough, going back to back on a short week. But it is what it is. I know people are certainly aware of it. If there
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) December 20, 2023

The Rams are one of several teams with a turf field. Earlier in the season, calls to ban turf fields from the NFL came roaring in after New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles on the notorious turf at MetLife Stadium.

In total, 15 teams have artificial turf. Meanwhile, the rest of the NFL uses the much softer natural grass.

It will no doubt be a debated topic in the NFL offseason regarding teams that still employ turf. As things stand, Kupp may hate turf, but like everyone else in the NFL, he has to deal with it.

“It's tough," Kupp said. "You're trying to get your body turned over. You've got a lot of stuff coming at you, and you're at the same time trying to get your body turned over to get ready to go for a Thursday game. So, it is a lot, but everyone's got to do it.