Rams Lose Star Receiver Puka Nacua for Extended Stretch After Knee, Toe Injuries

The Los Angeles Rams will be without wide receiver Puka Nacua for an extended period after he sprained his MCL and PCL and suffered a turf toe injury on the final play of the team’s 20-13 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

Coach Sean McVay confirmed the severity of the injury Wednesday, saying the team would not place Nacua on injured reserve because of roster considerations, but that he would still miss significant time.

“We won’t place him on IR due to some semantics with the roster and things like that, but he’ll be out for an extended period of time,” McVay said, according to The Athletic.

Nacua, a two-time Pro Bowler, had been one of the Rams’ most productive players this season despite missing two earlier games with injury. In seven games, he caught 70 passes for 715 yards and four touchdowns.

His absence leaves the Rams without their top two wide receivers. Davante Adams, a six-time Pro Bowler, has been out since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 6. In six games this season, Adams had 30 catches for 480 yards and four touchdowns. McVay said the team is targeting Adams’ return for the Rams’ Week 12 game against the Green Bay Packers on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

With both top receivers sidelined, the Rams will lean on Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell, CJ Daniels and Xavier Smith, along with a deep group of tight ends, to fill the gap.

McVay pointed to Adams’ anticipated return as one reason the Rams did not pursue a wide receiver at the NFL trade deadline.

“It kind of takes two [to trade], and you’ve got to be able to see what you’re willing to give, what’s out there, what’s out there as far as envisioning things,” McVay said, according to The Athletic. “I think with a lot of the moves that you guys will be wondering about, what we are optimistic about is Davante’s return is sooner [rather] than later.”

The Rams have won three straight games to improve to 5-4 on the season. They travel to face the Arizona Cardinals (3-6) on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET, looking to avenge an earlier loss to Arizona this year. The Cardinals are expected to start rookie quarterback Carson Beck.