The Rams took a hit in Week 9 that could ripple all the way to their December matchup with the Chiefs.
Puka Nacua’s injury looked harmless in real time. He took a fourth-quarter handoff against the Washington Commanders, got back to his feet after the tackle, and kept moving.
But after the game, the picture changed fast. Nacua was diagnosed with PCL and MCL strains, and Sean McVay initially believed the receiver would be headed to injured reserve.
He also picked up turf toe on the play, which ended up being the Rams’ final offensive snap of the game.
Even with those multiple injuries, Nacua avoided IR. A stint there would have sidelined him for at least four weeks and made him unavailable for the Rams’ Week 13 game against Kansas City.
Instead, Los Angeles is keeping him on the 53-man roster, though the expectation is still that he’ll miss significant time. According to Sarah Barshop of ESPN, the move is essentially “roster semantics.”
That leaves the Rams trying to patch together their receiver group at a tough stretch of the season. They already don’t have Davante Adams, and they held firm at Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Tight end Terrance Ferguson was placed on IR this week as well, forcing McVay to lean on Tutu Atwell, rookie CJ Daniels, and slot receiver Konata Mumpfield.
Los Angeles heads to Arizona this week, then gets its Week 11 bye. After that, the Rams host the Packers before the Chiefs come to town on Thursday, December 3.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Face A Backfield Question Before Falcons Matchup
A late-week injury note has added a little uncertainty to Kansas Citys backfield ahead of its matchup with Atlanta. Kenneth Walker was held out of practice Friday because of a tight groin and is now listed as questionable, giving the Chiefs one more thing to monitor as they prepare for a game that comes with plenty of attention for a team sitting at 6-2.
Andy Reid offered updates on Walkers condition as the Chiefs worked through their final prep, and the timing matters with the roster already seeing movement elsewhere. Kansas City recently added wide receiver Josh Downs from the Indianapolis Colts, so the offense is adjusting on multiple fronts while trying to keep its momentum intact against the Falcons. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Suddenly Have A Familiar Late-Season Receiver Question
Marquise Brown is suddenly back on the market, with the Philadelphia Eagles reportedly waiving the veteran receiver after just four appearances this season. Brown signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia in March after spending the previous two seasons with the Chiefs, so his availability immediately brings a familiar name back into the conversation for Kansas City at a time when receiver depth always draws extra attention.
If Brown is claimed off waivers, he will finish the season elsewhere, which leaves the Chiefs to watch a situation that feels a little too familiar for this time of year. Even without any certainty about where he lands, his exit from Philadelphia reopens a late-season question Kansas City knows well: whether a former contributor might become part of the picture again when the stretch run gets tight. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Get A Familiar Sunday Broadcast For Rare Falcons Trip
The Chiefs rare trip to Atlanta comes with a familiar Sunday afternoon feel, at least for viewers back home. Kansas City will face the Falcons at noon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the game will air locally on KCTV (Ch. 5) with CBS Sports top broadcast team on the call.
For a team that has spent much of the season in the national spotlight, the broadcast assignment is another reminder of how closely every Chiefs game is being watched. The Week 10 slate also comes with a full set of NFL broadcast pairings, but this one stands out because of the matchup itself, with Kansas City heading to a building it does not visit often and trying to handle business on the road in a spot that has not been kind to the franchise in years. [Read more 🡒]