The Rams just put up 28 points and 327 passing yards without Puka Nacua, and yet the biggest story coming out of Week 2 is still the receiver’s health.
Nacua sat out Los Angeles’ 28-6 win over the New York Giants with a hip injury, and the offense didn’t blink. Davante Adams turned in a huge night with eight catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum piled up 162 rushing yards together, and Matthew Stafford looked sharp all game, finishing 22 of 31 for 327 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Even with that kind of showing, the Rams are still waiting on their All-Pro playmaker to get back on the field. That return may not come in Week 3. In a recent interview with ESPN Los Angeles, Sean McVay gave a blunt update on Nacua’s recovery.
"We'll see," McVay said bluntly on his status for Week 3. "He's not making great progress. We'd love to welcome Puka back with open arms, but if not, I've got a ton of confidence in the group we will go with if he doesn't go."
That kind of answer doesn’t leave much room for optimism. McVay did not say Nacua is definitely out, but the tone pointed in that direction. The source material also notes that his comments hint at possible tension between McVay and the organization, though that remains speculation.
The Rams’ performance against the Giants only strengthens the case that they can survive without Nacua for now. Adams, at 33, looked every bit like a receiver who can still take over a game, and Los Angeles has enough depth at the position, along with an ascending Terrance Ferguson, to keep the offense moving. Nacua’s off-field issues over the past year and his push for a new contract only add another layer to the situation.
Nacua’s production last season still speaks for itself: 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games. But for the moment, McVay has made it clear the Rams are prepared to keep rolling either way.
Los Angeles heads to Denver to play the Broncos on Sunday night, then comes a stretch that includes the Eagles, Bills and Cardinals.
In Other News...
Rams Just Made Puka Nacuas Price Tag Much Harder To Ignore
Puka Nacuas future is quickly becoming one of the more important decisions on the Rams calendar. He is in the final year of his rookie deal, and Sean McVay has made it clear there is no set timeline for an extension, even as the wideouts impact on the offense has become impossible to miss. Nacua has already shown how central he can be to what the Rams want to do, but his injury history is part of the calculation, along with the reality that the team has had to navigate stretches without him.
The price tag is the part that gets trickier from here. Los Angeles has to weigh the value of locking in a player who has already changed the shape of the offense against the kind of financial commitment that comes with a receiver of his importance. The Rams also have to consider their alternatives if they decide not to move quickly, which is why this is shaping up as more than just a routine contract discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Poona Ford Just Gave Rams Fans Real Hope Up Front
Poona Fords first impression in a Rams uniform was a little underwhelming, but his second outing looked a lot more like the kind of interior help this defense was hoping to get. In Week 2, he was part of a front that kept the New York Giants from finding much room on the ground, and the difference was obvious in how sturdier the middle of the line looked with Aaron Donald working alongside him.
Fords value has always been tied to the dirty work inside, and that showed up more clearly against New York. The Rams did not need a splashy box score from him so much as consistent resistance at the point of attack, and this game offered a better glimpse of how he can fit into the run defense. After one shaky start, there is at least real reason to think the up-front pairing can give Los Angeles something to build on. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Just Made A Move To Fix A Growing Special Teams Problem
The Rams made a roster adjustment this week aimed squarely at a part of the team that has started to need attention. Los Angeles signed safety Maximus Pulley off the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad and, in a corresponding move, placed running back Ronnie Rivers on injured reserve. Pulley, a Western Kentucky and Wofford College product, already brings special teams experience with him, and the Eagles had activated him to their active roster for Week 2 before he came to Los Angeles.
For the Rams, the appeal is straightforward: a chance to add help in a phase of the game where they have been looking for cleaner execution. Pulley is expected to be used mostly on special teams, giving the coaching staff another option as it tries to steady a unit that has become a growing concern. [Read more 🡒]