Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua is expected to be placed on injured reserve due to MCL and PCL sprains plus turf toe, head coach Sean McVay announced Monday. The move will sideline Nacua for at least four games.
Nacua, who led the NFL in catches (129), receiving first downs (80), and receiving yards per game (107.2) last season, holds the league's all-time career average of 96.2 receiving yards per game. This season he has 70 catches for 715 yards and four touchdowns, plus 41 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries. He leads the Rams in every receiving metric and is tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with Davante Adams.
Adams is also on injured reserve with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 6, expected to miss 6-10 weeks. The earliest Adams could return is Week 12 against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 25. Nacua's earliest return would be Week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 20, though the Week 11 bye provides an extra week of recovery.
Impact on Rams Offense
With both star receivers out, quarterback Matthew Stafford will rely more on running back Kyren Williams (team-high 46 targets, 36 catches), tight end Tyler Higbee (287 receiving yards), and tight end Davis Allen (two receiving touchdowns), along with the run game featuring Williams and Blake Corum.
