The Los Angeles Rams got the result they wanted Sunday, but the final offensive snap brought another injury scare for one of their biggest playmakers.
Puka Nacua hurt his knee late in the Rams’ 20-13 win over the Washington Commanders, with the injury coming on a 5-yard carry and just under two minutes left, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. After the run failed to move the chains, Los Angeles punted, and the Rams’ defense finished the job by stopping a Washington drive that pushed deep into Rams territory as time expired.
ESPN reported that Nacua is scheduled for an MRI Monday to find out how serious the injury is. The team, according to the report, does not believe he tore his ACL, though the imaging is expected to provide more clarity.
Before the late setback, Nacua was in the middle of another big performance. He hauled in 14 catches on 19 targets from Matthew Stafford for 150 yards, and he also delivered the go-ahead score with 12:51 remaining, making a 7-yard catch in the corner of the end zone to put Los Angeles ahead 20-13.
That touchdown held up, and the Rams never let Washington get even.
Nacua, the former BYU and Orem High standout, has already battled multiple injuries this season and has missed two games. Even with that missed time, he has put together a strong year, sitting at 70 receptions for 715 yards and four touchdowns. After Sunday’s production, he ranks seventh in the NFL in receiving yards.
In Other News...
Utah Is Forcing A No. 1 Debate Fans Wont Ignore
Week 10 left the Top 25 picture with a few familiar powers still sorting themselves out, but it also kept the unbeaten conversation alive in a way that is hard to ignore. UCLA and Utah both stayed perfect, and in a ballot built on recent results and overall performance, that kind of record naturally puts pressure on the rest of the field to justify staying ahead of them.
For BYU fans, the bigger takeaway is how the broader ranking debate keeps circling back to teams like Utah, Georgia, Notre Dame, Alabama, Indiana, Miami, Texas and Wake Forest as the season tightens. These ballots are subjective by design, but when undefeated teams keep winning and the margin between contenders stays thin, every weekly adjustment becomes part of a larger argument about who really belongs near the top. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Utah Loss Exposed A Brutal Offense Defense Divide
BYUs 28-20 loss to Utah left plenty to sort through afterward, and Brandon Gurneys position-by-position grades captured the split personality of the night. The quarterback room, led by Bear Bachmeier, landed near the bottom after four interceptions helped sink drives and tilt the game away from the Cougars, while several other groups drew mixed reviews depending on how much they could overcome the mistakes around them.
One of the brighter spots came up front, where the defensive line earned one of the better marks for its ability to generate sacks and keep Utah from getting much going on the ground. Even in a loss, that kind of effort stood out, but the broader takeaway from the grading was hard to miss: BYU had enough defensive resistance to stay in the game for stretches, yet too many offensive breakdowns to fully capitalize on it. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Next Big 12 Test Just Got More Real After Utah Loss
BYU gets back to work Saturday with a Big 12 matchup that suddenly carries a little more weight after the loss to Utah. The Cougars will host Baylor at 1:30 p.m. MST at LaVell Edwards Stadium, with FOX carrying the telecast and KSL NewsRadio on the call, as BYU looks to steady itself at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in league play.
Baylor arrives at 6-3 and has already shown some life under interim head coach Joe Klanderman, winning its first two games in that role. It also adds a bit of conference novelty to the afternoon, since this will be the first Big 12 meeting between the schools in Provo since BYU joined the league in 2023. [Read more 🡒]