49ers HC reveals when he first thought Brock Purdy could be 2023 starter

Since Cooper Kupp's availability for Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is uncertain, the Los Angeles Rams may use a fifth-round rookie to aid with passing.

[{"selector":"#anim-21273254-d0b1-4c67-8d14-49da8b27f555","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60dd2b1b-d459-4bcc-8baa-7ccd0607a1ae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3bd3a7bc-3e6d-4b66-937c-93191257880e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Puka Nacua, the 177th selection in the 2023 draft, has impressed head coach Sean McVay in training camp and might play a major part in the Rams offense this season.

[{"selector":"#anim-4082cf9f-9e07-42a7-9278-09e31ad1b31e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-072fe044-215a-4b5c-976d-2e4a20b4d324","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0e8e07b-5c89-444d-be69-7610eac7eecd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

McVay told reporters that Nacua, guard Steve Avila, edge rusher Byron Young, and defensive lineman Kobie Turner are "guys we count on being immediate contributors.

[{"selector":"#anim-1418421c-9c60-4c34-82d9-6c256535c9df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36bca2bc-bf84-4235-8d13-c628c0a5f58a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c659865d-ca54-437e-9ff8-847bd24be397","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Beyond Kupp, the Rams have little wideout experience. If Kupp loses time, Van Jefferson may be the team's leading passer.

[{"selector":"#anim-fd474bef-70a5-4d6c-bf14-052f6ccced30","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcbb62b3-9f88-4bc0-a98c-8c96b70a5379","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de37e791-bcb5-4431-b15b-e70d6425a916","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

However, his 24 catches and 369 yards in 11 2023 games don't exactly scream "go-to target.

[{"selector":"#anim-4d93973b-84f6-4130-894f-f20a742d2752","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47c110aa-471e-4b04-96b8-9e3a47bacfe5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4b247d2-8223-4b4f-8b44-79aaa7f0e470","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

His 5-foot-9-inch, 165-pound body doesn't project as an every-down player, and he has only 18 catches in two years in Los Angeles.

[{"selector":"#anim-ee288185-761e-4bf9-9d98-f3929c0c55bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea779d3b-48f3-4e71-b035-5143fdb30393","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5abafa3-da17-45e8-85a5-416aa4c13830","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Early in the season, special teams star Ben Skowronek and veteran Demarcus Robinson may play offense. Nacua appears to have the most to gain if Kupp loses time.

[{"selector":"#anim-a45c4a07-2de1-4165-bb41-4b1dd4037177","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76979547-96da-417a-9778-4d78214d9f72","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6fe1b89d-6acc-43c4-95c5-e29f41278562","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Nacua, 22, averaged 15.7 yards per reception and scored 16 touchdowns in his final two BYU seasons.

[{"selector":"#anim-fba4825b-fe8e-46cb-804e-b92a1f22fa43","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-529f3efb-ddd5-4b74-889f-3860e1baf12e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9f48a91-339b-4ed3-9dfb-7bde81ab7aeb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Kupp, the NFL's 2021 Offensive Player of the Year, is in Minnesota seeing a specialist for his reaggravated hamstring issue.

[{"selector":"#anim-eec6403b-0bba-4976-9ad4-5df0dba955d8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10c0227f-4858-4ee5-84b6-580f2bf2331c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae2e6948-2d18-4c08-a011-0383891987ef","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1100,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]