Nacua (knee), who remains on IR, is working to the side at Wednesday's practice with a compression sleeve on his right leg, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports. Nacua is working with the strength and conditioning staff to the side at Wednesday's practice alongside Cooper Kupp (ankle), who has been ruled out for Week 4. The earliest possible date Nacua will be eligible to come off IR and play will be Week 7 against the Raiders on Oct. 20, after Los Angeles' bye, but that would be optimistic considering the 5-to-7-week recovery timetable he was initially given upon being diagnosed with a PCL sprain. That could leave the second-year wideout in danger of not only missing Week 7, but also the following Thursday night matchup against the Vikings in Week 8. On the plus side, while Kupp has already been ruled out for Week 4 against the Bears and may also miss Week 5 versus Green Bay, the veteran wideout seems like a better candidate to be ready to retake the field following Los Angeles' bye.
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Status
IR - Knee - PCL - Sprain Expected Return: 2024-10-20Latest Puka Nacua news
2024 Season Receiving
2024 Season Rushing
Puka Nacua Career Stats
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Career Stats - Rushing
CARYDSAVGTDLNGFDFUM13967.404551Career Stats - Receiving
RECTGTSYDSAVGTDLNGYAC109164152114680122Rushing
Receiving
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Career Stats - Rushing
CARYDSAVGTDLNGFDFUM1-2-20-201Career Stats - Receiving
RECTGTSYDSAVGTDLNGYAC91018120.1150181Rushing
Season Team CAR YDS AVG TD LNG FD FUM 2023 LA 1 -2 -2 0 -2 0 1 Career 1-2-20-201Receiving
Season Team REC TGTS YDS AVG TD LNG YAC 2023 LA 9 10 181 20.1 1 50 181 Career 91018120.1150181
Puka Nacua
Season Stats
Previous Game (@ DET 9/8)
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Receiving
RECTGTSYDSAVGTDLNGYAC44358.801635Rushing
CARYDSAVGTDLNGFDFUM1770700
Puka Nacua
Game Log
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Regular SeasonreceivingrushingDateOppResultRECTGTSYDSAVGTDSLNGYACCARYDSAVGTDLNGFD9/8L 20-2644358.801617177070
Regular Season Totals 44358.801617177070
Puka Nacua Player Profile
Career History
Puka Nacua Fantasy Projections
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Full season projectionsREC 97.8REC YDS 1,102.8LNG 32.0TD 2.8
Puka Nacua Latest News
Working on side field Wednesday
Nacua (knee), who remains on IR, is working to the side at Wednesday's practice with a compression sleeve on his right leg, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports. Nacua is working with the strength and conditioning staff to the side at Wednesday's practice alongside Cooper Kupp (ankle), who has been ruled out for Week 4. The earliest possible date Nacua will be eligible to come off IR and play will be Week 7 against the Raiders on Oct. 20, after Los Angeles' bye, but that would be optimistic considering the 5-to-7-week recovery timetable he was initially given upon being diagnosed with a PCL sprain. That could leave the second-year wideout in danger of not only missing Week 7, but also the following Thursday night matchup against the Vikings in Week 8. On the plus side, while Kupp has already been ruled out for Week 4 against the Bears and may also miss Week 5 versus Green Bay, the veteran wideout seems like a better candidate to be ready to retake the field following Los Angeles' bye.
Facing 5-to-7-week absence
Nacua could miss between five and seven weeks, depending on how quickly he recovers from a PCL sprain in his right knee, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN. The second-year wideout had initially hurt his right knee early in training camp and missed the entire preseason before being cleared to play Week 1, only to exit last Sunday's season-opening overtime loss to the Lions after reinjuring the same knee. The estimated 5-to-7-week recovery timeline doesn't come as a major surprise, as head coach Sean McVay suggested after Nacua was placed on injured reserve Wednesday that the receiver could miss more than the minimum four games. Fortunately for Nacua, the Rams have a well-timed bye Week 6, so if he progresses well in his recovery, he could have a chance at making it back from IR when first eligible to play Week 7 against the Raiders on Oct. 20. In Nacua's upcoming absence, Cooper Kupp will likely dominate the targets in the passing game as the Rams' clear No. 1 option, while tight end Colby Parkinson and receivers Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson could be in store for expanded profiles on offense.
May miss more than four games
Rams head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that Nacua (knee) has a "unique" injury that may require him to miss more than the required four games while on injured reserve, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports. The Rams conveniently have a Week 6 bye that affords Nacua and other teammates on IR some extra recovery time before a potential return Week 7 against the Raiders, but McVay's comments suggest that the second-year receiver is no lock to be ready for activation when first eligible. The team officially placed Nacua on IR on Wednesday due to a PCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered in Sunday's season-opening loss to Detroit, which was an aggravation of the bursa sac issue that he sustained Aug. 4. As long as Nacua is sidelined, Cooper Kupp will be the Rams' clear top wide receiver, with Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson the next players up at the position.
Officially on IR
Nacua (knee) has officially been placed on IR by the Rams. With the anticipated move now having been confirmed, Nacua will miss at least the Rams' next four games. In his absence, fellow wideout Cooper Kupp figures to see plenty of targets, while Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington are candidates to see added work in the team's offense in the coming weeks.
Headed to IR
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
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
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
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
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.