Rams' Puka Nacua Talks Changes to Diet, Weight Loss amid Workouts with Cooper Kupp

Achieving NFL stardom straight out of the gate hasn't caused Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua to lose sight of the work required to build on his early success.

The 2023 Pro Bowler told ESPN's Sarah Barshop that working out alongside Cooper Kupp has been a formative experience as well.

"My nutrition definitely did change after starting workouts [with Kupp] because I was like, 'Hey, I can't keep showing up at 6 a.m. and throwing up," he said. "So I was like maybe I'll wait to eat after."

Nacua also told Barshop he's down to 210 pounds, a 10-pound difference from where he played the bulk of last season.

"I feel like I got slimmer in my body fat and just feeling more firm in the weight I'm at," he said. "I lost a couple pounds here and there, but it feels good to see some muscles. I don't think I was fat last year, but a little more muscle definition is always nice."

The 6'2" pass-catcher explained how Kupp held him accountable. They'd start workouts at 6 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If Kupp had a prior engagement that interrupted their regular schedule, he'd simply move up the workout so they'd start at 5 a.m., for example.

Kupp turned 31 earlier this month, and injuries meant he has failed to eclipse 1,000 yards over the last two seasons after claiming the receiving triple crown in 2021. While he's under contract through 2026, his long-term future in Los Angeles may look even murkier if Nacua affirms his status as an elite wideout in the coming campaign.

Whenever his Rams tenure does end, it's clear Kupp's impact will extend beyond his departure thanks to the direct tutelage he has given to his protégé.