Rams Expected to Place Puka Nacua on IR With MCL, PCL Sprains and Turf Toe
Sean McVay said the All-Pro receiver will miss at least a month and that he is 'kicking himself' over the late run call that led to the injury
The Rams will be without their best player for at least a month. Los Angeles is expected to place Puka Nacua on injured reserve with MCL and PCL sprains in his right knee plus turf toe, coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.
The #Rams are expected to place WR Puka Nacua on Injured Reserve with MCL and PCL sprains, plus turf toe, coach Sean McVay told reporters.View on X →
Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet): The #Rams are expected to place WR Puka Nacua on Injured Reserve with MCL and PCL sprains, plus turf toe, coach Sean McVay told reporters.
On Sunday, the team didn't believe Nacua had torn his ACL and planned an MRI. McVay didn't give an exact timeline but said the Rams expect it to be at least a month. An IR stint would keep Nacua out of games against the Cardinals, Packers, Chiefs and 49ers.
Nacua was hurt on the final offensive snap of Sunday's 20-13 win over the Commanders, taking a hard hit on a third-down run as the Rams tried to close out the game. McVay said he has replayed that call over and over, ESPN's Sarah Barshop reported.
"I'd be lying to you if I said I haven't questioned the decision-making on that last play over and over in my head," McVay said. "And so it's stuff that I feel tremendous responsibility for."
The loss is enormous for the offense. Nacua caught 14 of 19 targets for 150 yards and a touchdown on Sunday and has 70 catches for 715 yards and four touchdowns in seven games, the most receptions through a player's first seven games of a season in NFL history. His 25 catches over the last two games are more than six times as many as any other Rams player in that span. Davante Adams has been out since hurting his hamstring in Week 6, so Matthew Stafford is now without both of his top receivers.
McVay had said the Rams didn't expect to be active before Tuesday's trade deadline. Asked Monday whether the injury changes that, he said the team will "look at all avenues" and that he "would never rule it out."
The Rams (5-4) visit the Cardinals on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 1:05 PM PT.