The San Francisco 49ers may not have to deal with Puka Nacua in Week 14. The Los Angeles Rams are expected to place the receiver on injured reserve, head coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday. That would sideline him for the Dec. 13 matchup at Levi’s Stadium.
Why Nacua Would Miss the San Francisco 49ers Game
Nacua is dealing with an MCL/PCL sprain from a hard hit in Sunday’s game. McVay also said he has turf toe, per Ryan Greenberg of NBC Sports Bay Area.
A player on injured reserve must miss at least four games. The Rams have a bye in Week 11, so the four-game minimum would run through their date with the 49ers.
What the 49ers Would Avoid
San Francisco Is Coming Off a Win Over the Raiders
San Francisco is coming off a dominant win. The 49ers beat the Las Vegas Raiders 38-17 on Sunday behind five second-half turnovers, per Rohan Chakravarthi of Niners Nation.
Jaden Dugger flipped the game with a pick-six on the first play of the second half. Fred Warner forced a fumble from Brock Bowers. Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha each picked off a pass.
On offense, Kaelon Black ran for 70 yards on 11 carries. Jordan Watkins led the team with four catches for 86 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown.
The one bad note was a season-ending broken ankle for defensive tackle Gracen Halton.
What’s Next for the San Francisco 49ers
The Rams matchup is still five weeks away. The IR move isn’t official yet, and Nacua’s recovery could change the timeline. San Francisco has other things to deal with first, including a Week 10 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 15.
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