EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings may see Cooper Kupp back on the field this week.

The All-Pro wide receiver has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury Week 2, but Rams Head Coach Sean McVay said Sunday evening he expects Kupp to return for the Thursday Night Football stage.

Kupp had been listed as questionable entering L.A.'s Week 7 game against the Raiders but ultimately was made inactive after going through a pregame workout.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell is plenty familiar with Kupp, having served as the Rams offensive coordinator from 2020-21, and he spoke to Twin Cities media members Monday about the synergy between Kupp and Rams QB Matthew Stafford.

O'Connell emphasized the amount of time Kupp and Stafford put in together studying film.

"You know, I can remember walking in that building very early in the morning and both their cars being there, and they're watching third-down tape or red-zone tape, and … it was beyond the game plan, much like I envision maybe that [Patrick] Mahomes and [Travis] Kelce relationship of, 'This is what it looked like on paper, but this is kind of the spin maybe we're going to put on it, or the adjustment we'll make if we get this look or that look,' and I've just watched it come to life so many times," O'Connell said. "You know, I envision those meetings are taking place during a short week and [they're getting] ready for Flo' (Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores) and his scheme. It can be challenged to play against those guys, and I'm sure they'll be ready to go.

"And being well-coached is one thing, but I think their players are definitely led by Matthew, Cooper, [Rams tackle] Rob Havenstein," he added. "You know, they've got some guys that have been through a lot of plays together, and they'll be ready to go."

Thursday will mark O'Connell's first time facing his former players as a head coach, as well as his first time at SoFi Stadium since helping the Rams win Super Bowl LVI.

Will the prime-time game feel like a chess match between two friends and former colleagues?

"To a certain extent, for sure, but at the same time, especially on a short week, you can't get too carried away with that because … it's still going to be 11 players in Vikings uniforms playing against 11 L.A. Rams in their uniforms. And thank goodness for the viewing pleasure at home, it's not going to be Sean and I going 1-on-1," O'Connell quipped. "Even though I think he's probably quicker, a little bit more sudden change, but I've definitely got the length and, you know, sneaky athleticism maybe."

Here are four other takeaways from Monday's media session with O'Connell:

1. Update on Hockenson, Risner & Cashman

O'Connell told media members there's "very much a possibility" that tight end T.J. Hockenson, guard Dalton Risner or both could be active for Thursday's game at Los Angeles.

Hockenson (Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform) and Risner (Reserve/Designated to Return) both currently are in their 21-day evaluation windows. Hockenson returned to practice on Oct. 4 and Risner on Oct. 14.

"Yeah, it's early, and we'll make that determination in these next couple days," O'Connell said. "As we put together game plans, want to have a good feel for that."

He also provided an update on linebacker Blake Cashman, who missed Sunday's game against the Lions with turf toe.

"He's progressing. Coming along from that toe in a way where I think – I don't know if he'll be available or not yet, as far as the estimations on his workload, [since] we're taking the tempo down on practices and the workload as we prep for Thursday," O'Connell said. "If we can have him, great. If not, I do feel very positive about [him returning for] the Colts game, for sure. But I'm not in a place to rule him out [for Thursday] quite yet."

2. No moral victories

Sunday's game was a gritty battle that came down to the wire after Minnesota started out in the lead, lost it and then clawed its way back into contention.

But while there are positives to take away, certainly, from the Vikings response to adversity, O'Connell said he "isn't in the business of moral victories" after a tough loss.

"It was a divisional home game. We did a lot of things to win the game. We did a lot of things that contributed to not winning the game. And my job is just continuing to press forward and trying to elevate our standards," he said. "In the eyes of a lot of folks, looking at the first six games, maybe we're in a different spot than people thought we would be in. But that has really never meant anything to me or our team. It all came down to just four quarters, an opportunity, yesterday.

"Pretty even, tight-fought game, just looking at how the box score ended up turning out and all those things, but a game like that – and games that I do believe are out in front of this football team – it's not about that," O'Connell continued. "It's about that one play in the second quarter that could make the difference. That one clean execution where we don't have a self-inflicted penalty or a mistake that sets us behind the chains – just simple execution and guys doing their jobs offensively. And then defensively, it's the same thing – trusting in the plan and doing everything we can on an every-snap basis to give ourselves the best chance to win football games."

3. Critiquing pre-snap penalties

The Vikings committed eight penalties (seven of them on offense) during Sunday's loss to the Lions.

O'Connell was asked specifically if there were any common themes among the pre-snap penalties that included two illegal formations, one false start and an offsides.

"I think there were some flat-out things that can't happen – either a receiver covering up on the ball tighter in a very simple formation or, just as [the game went on], I don't know if our guys were pressing or – you know, we wanted to win that game, for sure," O'Connell said. "I mean, you could feel it in the lead into it. There was no hiding from the fact that we knew it was a divisional opponent at home. Really good football team, but I felt like our guys were prepared.

"But there were some things execution-wise, just simple things before the ball ever gets snapped," he added. "I thought our post-snap execution was really good. There were some holding calls in there, and some things that took some big gains off the board and kind of set us back behind the chains – especially some of those second-quarter drives when they were able to score on four possessions in a row."

O'Connell put the onus on himself, noting that "enough of that stuff" cropped up to know it's a problem that needs fixing.

"Starts with me. I've got to challenge everybody – coaches, players – to make sure, as we raise that bar, we need to start seeing every snap," he said, adding that a short week of preparation now is no excuse to repeat the same errors.

"I've got all the confidence in the world that we'll get there, but it's what we've got to work towards on a short week, to make sure there are no excuses of, 'Aw, shucks, we didn't have enough time to prepare,' " O'Connell said. "We get the same amount of time as they do, and we've got to capitalize on it and be ready to go."

4. Dallas Turner

Sunday's divisional game featured very little of rookie outside linebacker Dallas Turner, who played just four snaps defensively and 20 on special teams.

O'Connell assured there's no concern and explained playing time, particularly for young players, can be dictated "based upon what we're seeing" from the opponent. Not to mention, the Vikings have a lot of depth at the position.

"I think we're going to continue to see Dallas have an impact. It may be a growing thing as we go here, but trust me, I've got a ton of confidence in Dallas, and he's growing within a pretty high-level I.Q. defense," O'Connell said. "I think he's an incredible fit in our defense, not only in the present, but in the future, as well. And he's going to be an absolute monster for us.

"I think D.T. is growing every single day," he added, "and I'm more excited about him now than I was even when we drafted him. And it's been well documented, my response when we drafted him."