Puka Nacua’s latest big day ended with a brutal turn for the Rams.
He was the centerpiece of Los Angeles’ 20-13 win over Washington on Sunday, hauling in the 7-yard touchdown that gave the Rams the lead for good. But on the final offensive snap, after taking a handoff and picking up five yards, Nacua came up injured with a knee issue that now appears serious enough to land him on injured reserve.
ESPN reported Monday that Rams coach Sean McVay expects Nacua to go on injured reserve with MCL and PCL sprains as well as turf toe. If Los Angeles makes the move before Sunday’s game at Arizona, Nacua would not be eligible to return until Dec. 20 against the Dallas Cowboys.
The timing stings for a Rams team that has suddenly found its stride, winning three straight to move above .500.
Nacua was everywhere against Washington. Matthew Stafford threw his way 19 times, and Nacua finished with 14 catches for a season-high 150 yards. That production accounted for nearly two-thirds of Stafford’s 228 passing yards.
The game also had a couple of tense swings before Nacua helped settle it. In the third quarter, Commanders safety Nick Cross picked off a pass intended for Nacua, leading to the field goal that tied the game at 13.
Stafford, though, kept leaning on his top target. A 19-yard connection to Nacua moved the Rams to the Washington 17 on the final play of the quarter, and five plays later Stafford found him again for the touchdown that put Los Angeles ahead for good.
Nacua now has 70 catches for 715 yards and four touchdowns in seven games this season. Twenty-five of those receptions have come over his last two outings.
Even with Sunday’s 14-catch effort, he still fell short of his season high. Nacua caught a career-best 17 passes against Buffalo in Week 5.
The Rams’ bye week stretches the expected absence across five weeks. After the trip to Arizona, Los Angeles has Week 11 off before hosting Green Bay and Kansas City, then visiting San Francisco on Dec. 13.
If Nacua does go on injured reserve as expected, the Cardinals and 49ers will get a crack at the Rams without the receiver who has averaged 10 catches every time he’s been on the field this season.
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Sean McVay Sounds Uneasy As Rams Face A Puka Nacua Problem
Puka Nacuas late-game injury landed as the kind of blow the Rams were hoping to avoid in a stretch where their offense had finally started to settle in. The receiver suffered MCL and PCL sprains along with turf toe on a late play in the game, and Sean McVay said there is a strong chance Nacua winds up on injured reserve. For a team that just improved to 5-4 with its third straight win, the timing makes the situation even more awkward.
Nacua had been one of the Rams most important contributors, and losing him would leave another hole in a passing game that is already dealing with Davante Adams on injured reserve. McVays tone suggested the Rams are bracing for a significant absence, which would force the offense to keep adjusting even as the team tries to build on its recent run. [Read more 🡒]