Nacua (knee) is in line to be placed on IR by the Rams, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic report. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, coach Sean McVay clarified his earlier comments from Monday and confirmed that Nacua is indeed slated to go on IR. In that context, the wideout will be eligible to return to action as soon as Sunday, Oct. 20 against the Raiders. In his looming absence, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington are candidates to see added work behind top WR Cooper Kupp.
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Status
OUT - Knee - PCL - Sprain Expected Return: 2024-10-20Next game projections (@ ARI 9/15)
Latest Puka Nacua news
2024 Season Receiving
2024 Season Rushing
![Puka Nacua](https://heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/940x940-crop-2007.png?w=100)
Puka Nacua Career Stats
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Career Stats - Rushing
CARYDSAVGTDLNGFDFUM13967.404551Career Stats - Receiving
RECTGTSYDSAVGTDLNGYAC1091641,52122.9680122.4Rushing
Season CAR YDS AVG TD LNG FD FUM 2024 1 7 7 0 7 0 0 2023 12 89 7.4 0 45 5 1 Receiving
Season REC TGTS YDS AVG TD LNG YAC 2024 4 4 35 8.8 0 16 35 2023 105 160 1,486 14.2 6 80 87.4 -
Career Stats - Rushing
CARYDSAVGTDLNGFDFUM1-2-20-201Career Stats - Receiving
RECTGTSYDSAVGTDLNGYAC91018120.1150181Rushing
Season CAR YDS AVG TD LNG FD FUM 2023 1 -2 -2 0 -2 0 1 Receiving
Season REC TGTS YDS AVG TD LNG YAC 2023 9 10 181 20.1 1 50 181
![Puka Nacua](https://heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/940x940-crop-2007.png?w=100)
Puka Nacua
Season Stats
Previous Game (@ DET 9/8)
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Receiving
RECTGTSYDSAVGTDLNGYAC44358.801635Rushing
CARYDSAVGTDLNGFDFUM1770700
![Puka Nacua](https://heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/940x940-crop-2007.png?w=100)
Puka Nacua
Game Log
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Regular SeasonreceivingrushingDateOppResultRECTGTSYDSAVGTDSLNGYACCARYDSAVGTDLNGFD9/8L 20-2644358.801617177070
Regular Season Totals 44358.801617177070
![Puka Nacua](https://heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/940x940-crop-2007.png?w=100)
Puka Nacua Player Profile
Career History
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![Puka Nacua](https://heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/940x940-crop-2007.png?w=100)
Puka Nacua Fantasy Projections
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Next Game4:05 pm September 15DraftKings points 17.4FanDuel Points 15.0REC 4.9REC YDS 78.5LNG 29.7TD 0.8CBSS fantasy points 12.5ESPN fantasy points 12.5Yahoo fantasy points 15.0
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Full season projectionsREC 97.8REC YDS 1,102.8LNG 32.0TD 2.8
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Puka Nacua Latest News
Headed to IR
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Nacua (knee) is in line to be placed on IR by the Rams, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic report. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, coach Sean McVay clarified his earlier comments from Monday and confirmed that Nacua is indeed slated to go on IR. In that context, the wideout will be eligible to return to action as soon as Sunday, Oct. 20 against the Raiders. In his looming absence, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington are candidates to see added work behind top WR Cooper Kupp.
Could land on IR
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Coach Sean McVay noted Monday that Nacua (knee) is a candidate to be placed on IR by the Rams, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. If that ends up being the case, Nacua -- who is dealing with a PCL sprain per Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com -- would be forced to miss at least four games. Either way, it appears as though the wideout is poised to miss some time. In that scenario, Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson would be candidates to see added opportunities behind Cooper Kupp.
Week-to-week, needs more tests
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Nacua (knee) is considered week-to-week Monday after aggravating the right knee injury he dealt with during the preseason in Sunday's 26-20 overtime loss to the Lions, and he's scheduled to undergo further testing, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Nacua seems likely to miss at least the Rams' road matchup against Arizona in Week 2 as he works to recover from his aggravated knee injury, though the second-year pro may not receive a clear recovery timetable until after the conclusion of his remaining medical tests. Head coach Sean McVay previously called the injury that sidelined Nacua in training camp a bursa sac issue. As long as Nacua remains sidelined, Cooper Kupp will stand to benefit from increased target volume as the definitive No. 1 target for quarterback Matthew Stafford, while Demarcus Robinson will figure to step up as the No. 2 WR. Tyler Johnson could step into the No. 3 spot after he played 66 percent of offensive snaps Sunday against Detroit.
Slated for testing on knee
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Nacua is scheduled to undergo testing Monday after he exited Sunday's 26-20 overtime loss to the Lions with a right knee injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The wideout caught four passes on seven targets for 35 yards and added seven yards on one carry before he landed hard on his knee following a second-quarter reception and left the game. After getting evaluated on the sideline, Nacua checked back in for a few plays but eventually headed back to the bench and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest. The upcoming tests should shed more light on the nature of his injury, but Nacua's issue is with the same knee that bothered him in training camp and the preseason, when he was held out of practices for much of August due to what head coach Sean McVay labeled as a bursa sac issue. The Rams are back in action Sunday in Arizona, and a potential Nacua absence would likely mean more volume for Cooper Kupp as the clear No. 1 wideout. Demarcus Robinson, who caught four passes on seven targets for 42 yards against the Lions, would likely take on a bigger role as well, while Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington could also get additional opportunities.
Won't return against Lions
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Nacua (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Lions. Nacua briefly came back into the game after being ruled questionable to return in the first half, but he promptly exited again and needed a cart to get to the locker room at halftime. Having been ruled out for the second half of the season opener, Nacua's next chance to take the field will be next Sunday in Arizona.
Questionable to return due to knee
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Nacua (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Lions. Nacua got hurt in the first half after catching all four of his targets for 35 yards and adding a seven-yard rush. It's unclear if this knee injury is related to the bursa sac issue in his knee that bothered Nacua throughout August but didn't affect his preparation during the week leading up to Sunday's regular-season opener. Per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Nacua came back in for a play after the initial questionable designation but then limped to the sideline.
Clear of knee injury
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Nacua (knee) was a full practice participant Wednesday, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports. Nacua has been tending to a bursa sac issue in his knee since Aug. 4, when he initially suffered the injury. Last Thursday, head coach Sean McVay told Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site that Nacua logged every practice rep, and the team officially cleared him Wednesday with his listing on its first injury report of the season. With his health not in question for Sunday's game in Detroit, Nacua will seek to build on a promising rookie season in which he produced a 105-1,486-6 receiving line on 160 targets in 17 games.
Getting back to normal
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Coach Sean McVay said Thursday that Nacua (knee) has been practicing "fully," and "he'll be ready to roll," Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports. Nacua left a joint practice with the Chargers on Aug. 4 due to a knee injury that McVay later called a bursa sac issue. McVay also relayed at the time an expectation that Nacua would be available Week 1, and the wide receiver displayed the first bit of visible progress in his recovery by practicing Monday. The Rams won't be posting their first injury report of the upcoming season until next Wednesday, but considering McVay's comments this week, Nacua appears destined to be listed as a full participant or even avoid showing up on it at all. Nacua is coming of a spectacular rookie campaign in 2023 in which he posted a 105-1,486-6 line on 160 targets in 17 regular-season games.
Back at practice to start week
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Nacua (knee) returned to practice Monday, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports. Nacua may not be a full participant immediately, but he'll now have two full weeks to gear up before a Sept. 8 season opener at Detroit. Monday marks his first practice appearance since Aug. 4, when he suffered a bursa sac injury in his knee. Coach Sean McVay said Aug. 6 that he wasn't worried about Nacua's availability for Week 1.