The Los Angeles Rams are trying to take down the Detroit Lions in a rematch of their 2023-24 NFC Wild Card Round playoff game, but they might have to do it without one of their best offensive players.
Wideout Puka Nacua appeared to suffer an injury during the second quarter of the Rams’ Sunday Night Football contest. What happened to Nacua, and what’s his current injury status?
What Happened to Puka Nacua?
Nacua was slow to walk off the field after hauling in a 6-yard pass from Matthew Stafford with 7:16 remaining in the second quarter. He limped to the sideline to prevent the Rams from having to use a timeout and made his way to the blue medical tent.
Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua shaken up after this play… 😬 pic.twitter.com/qnEheDkOWv
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 9, 2024
He emerged after spending nearly 10 minutes in the tent and was spotted now running up and down the sideline while being watched by L.A.’s medical staff, per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.
The Rams initially announced that Nacua is questionable to return with a knee injury. He returned to the game on Los Angeles’ next offensive series.
However, Nacua was carted to the locker room at halftime. NBC’s broadcast reported that he appeared “devastated” on the sidelines. The Rams officially ruled Nacua out for the rest of Sunday’s game at the start of the third quarter.
Nacua underwent tests on Monday to determine the severity of his injury, NFL Network reported.
Unfortunately, head coach Sean McVay announced that Nacua has a sprained PCL and will go on injured reserve.
Now that Nacua has been placed on IR, he is required to miss at least four games. Over the next four weeks, the Rams will face the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers.
Nacua suffered a training camp injury in early August, bursting the bursa sac in his right knee. He started practicing again in late August and was fully cleared before Week 1.
Nacua posted four catches for a team-leading 35 yards before departing. He set NFL rookie records for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) in 2023 after the Rams made the BYU product a fifth-round pick.
Cooper Kupp becomes Los Angeles’ WR1 with Nacua sidelined. Kupp, 31, began the 2023 season on injured reserve while battling a hamstring injury. He finished last year with just 59 catches for 737 yards and five touchdowns.
DeMarcus Robinson is the Rams’ WR3, leaving reserves Tyler Johnson, Jordan Whittington, and Tutu Atwell to compete for Nacua’s vacated snaps. L.A. could also lean into two-TE personnel with starter Colby Parkinson joined by Davis Allen.
Fantasy Implications of Nacua’s Injury
The fantasy football darling from the 2023 NFL season, Nacua entered this game expected to be fully healthy after working through a knee injury throughout most of the preseason.
With Nacua out for at least four weeks, Kupp will instantly enter the top-five fantasy WR conversation on a weekly basis. Additionally, look for the roles of Robinson, Johnson, and potentially even Whittington to expand as a second pass-catching option in this Rams’