The Los Angeles Rams left Week 9 with a win over the Washington Commanders, but the bigger concern is what happened to Puka Nacua on the final offensive snap.
Late in the fourth quarter, after a carry on third down, Nacua took a hard shot to the knee and came up clearly shaken. The injury happened at the end of a huge afternoon for the Rams receiver, who piled up 150 yards and a touchdown on 14 catches while also adding two carries for 20 yards.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Nacua is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday to learn how serious the knee injury is. Schefter reported that the Rams do not believe Nacua suffered a torn ACL, but Monday’s imaging will provide a clearer picture.
“All-Pro WR Puka Nacua suffered a knee injury on the Rams’ final offensive snap today, and will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury, per Mike Garafolo and me,” Schefter reported. “The team does not believe he suffered a torn ACL, but the imaging Monday will tell more.”
The timing makes this especially tricky for Los Angeles. Davante Adams is already out with a hamstring injury after suffering a ruptured hamstring in Week 6.
Adams was initially given a six to 10 week timeline, though head coach Sean McVay said he would likely return on the shorter end. Even so, the earliest Adams appears set to come back is Week 13.
If Nacua is sidelined for any stretch, the Rams could be forced to look outside the roster for help at receiver. They would have until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET to make a move.
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