Puka Nacua exited the Los Angeles Rams’ Week 6 win at the Baltimore Ravens with a left ankle injury after a contested end‑zone ball. He returned in the third quarter but did not record a target the rest of the game.
Nacua’s season to date still leads the headline numbers. Through six games, he has 54 receptions for 616 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He has also added 52 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. In PFSN’s WR impact metrics, Nacua received a score of 96, which earned him an A grade. That production set an early pace at the top of the league’s receiving board before the injury pause.
What Is the Latest on Puka Nacua’s Injury Ahead of the Jaguars Clash?
Nacua has been ruled out for the Week 7 international matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. Kickoff is 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network. The Rams have structured this week with the bye immediately following London. That gap creates a clean rehabilitation window with no game in Week 8.
Head coach Sean McVay said he is optimistic Nacua will be ready after the bye, contingent on continued progress and medical clearance. The club will finalize inactives 90 minutes before kickoff, along with any standard practice‑squad elevations, and the starting lineup card will post in the final pregame window.
Los Angeles will rely on the rest of its receiving group in London. In Nacua’s absence, the focus will shift to how Matthew Stafford distributes targets and how the run game supports sustained drives.
Rams WR’s Return Timeline
The Rams initially listed the injury as a foot issue before clarifying it was the ankle. Imaging and repeated evaluations reportedly set the short‑term plan with no London appearance, followed by a Week 8 bye that provides additional recovery time.
McVay remains positive, noting “good progress” and an optimistic view of a post‑bye return, with the caveat that clearance is tied to rehabilitation milestones and position‑specific testing.
For receivers, return‑to‑play generally hinges on two field benchmarks. The first is straight‑line sprinting at game speed without pain or compensation. The second is full‑speed change‑of‑direction and route cutting, followed by a clean post‑session response. The medical staff and player must satisfy both before activation. When those thresholds are met, the club files the necessary game‑day paperwork and Nacua resumes his role.
The calendar helps. A single game sits between the injury and the break, then a full bye week separates Week 7 and Week 9. That timeline reduces risk and aligns with an early November target if progress continues. The Rams will keep their reporting tight to league protocols: practice participation updates during the next game week, then a final status on the injury report before kickoff.
Until then, Los Angeles adjusts. The pass game spreads targets, the run game absorbs volume, and special teams manage field position in a neutral‑site morning window. The team’s objective now is to maintain efficiency and restore the full offensive shape when Nacua is ready.
