Puka Nacua’s status is hanging over the Rams heading into Week 7, and Los Angeles may be better off taking the cautious route.
Nacua was downgraded to questionable after suffering a calf injury in Thursday’s practice. It’s a familiar kind of uncertainty for the Rams, who have already played without him twice this season. He missed Week 2 while listed as questionable and sat again in Week 3 with a doubtful tag, both times dealing with a hip injury.
The Rams have been careful with him before, and that approach may matter even more now. They have not yet had to play a game without both Nacua and Davante Adams, but that possibility is on the table against the Raiders.
When Nacua came back in Week 4, he immediately went back to carrying the offense. In the win over the Philadelphia Eagles, he hauled in nine of 12 targets for 125 yards. The next week, he was even busier, catching 17 of 24 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown in the overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills.
That kind of usage is exactly why Los Angeles has to think carefully here. The Rams are clearly drawn to throwing his way, and this season Nacua has averaged 13 targets and more than nine receptions per game. If he’s still dealing with pain, the temptation to lean on him anyway could create a bigger problem down the road.
There’s also the simple matter of what the roster looks like right now. With the Rams banged up in multiple spots, Nacua alone may not be enough to swing the result. If he’s held out, the benefit could come later, when more pieces are available and his impact can be felt alongside them.
A Week 7 absence would also force the Rams to use other parts of the offense that have been largely sitting there unused. They have other receivers and a rushing attack that hasn’t been asked to do enough. If Nacua doesn’t go, Los Angeles would have to lean on lesser-used options.
For a team trying to win right now, that may sound counterintuitive. But the smarter play could be to give the offense one step back now in hopes of getting many more later.
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Puka Nacua Gives Rams One Huge Week 7 Concern
Puka Nacuas name showed up on the Rams injury report with a calf issue, and that alone changes the feel of a Week 7 matchup that already had enough moving parts. Listed as questionable against the Raiders, Nacua has missed two games this season and has not been able to practice fully, leaving Los Angeles with one of its most important pass-catching pieces in genuine doubt going into the weekend.
The timing is especially awkward for a Rams offense that is already planning around Davante Adams being sidelined with a hamstring injury. With so much expected to run through Nacua in the passing game, the Rams now have to manage the possibility that their top target may end up as a game-time decision, turning a key divisional-weekend style test into an early stress point for the offense. [Read more 🡒]
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The timing leaves Los Angeles trying to piece together its receiving plan for the next game while also waiting on Puka Nacuas calf injury status. With Adams unavailable and Nacua uncertain, the Rams may have to navigate a stretch that tests both their depth and their ability to keep the passing game on schedule. [Read more 🡒]