Head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that Nacua (knee/toe) won't be placed on injured reserve right now "just because of some semantics with the roster," Greg Beacham of the Associated Press reports. "He's still going to be out for a significant period of time," McVay added.
In particular, the Rams already have used up three of their possible eight activations from reserve lists, and they currently have 12 players on IR. Nacua suffered PCL and MCL sprains and also a turf-toe injury on the team's final offensive snap of this past Sunday's win at Washington. Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reported Wednesday that Los Angeles is optimistic Nacua will be able to return in Week 14 or 15, which would mean three or four games out of commission, as opposed to the required four contests if he's moved to injured reserve. As a result, the roster crunch combined with Nacua's possible recovery timeline means he may not officially go on IR.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: May be tracking for Week 14 or 15 return
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The Rams remain optimistic that Nacua (knee/toe) will be able to return to action Week 14 versus the 49ers or Week 15 versus the Cowboys, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports.
While the Rams have yet to officially rule Nacua out for their Week 10 game at Arizona, head coach Sean McVay acknowledged Monday that the wideout was likely to land on injured reserve. It's unclear if the Rams are still planning on deactivating Nacua, however; they placed fellow receiver Jordan Whittington (back) on IR on Tuesday, while Nacua remained a member of the 53-man roster. With a bye on tap Week 11, the Rams could be compelled to keep Nacua off IR if they believe he can play Week 14, which would mean that he misses three games rather than four required for an IR stint. Whatever the case, the Rams will have to get by a depleted pass-catching group in the short term, as Nacua, Whittington, Davante Adams (hamstring) and Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) are all sidelined with injuries.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Likely to miss at least one month
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The Rams are expected to place Nacua (knee/toe) on injured reserve in the coming days due to injuries that will likely sideline him for at least one month, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Though head coach Sean McVay wasn't willing to commit to a timeline for Nacua's recovery when he addressed the matter Monday, the wideout looks as though he'll get the next four games off, at a minimum, while he contends with an MCL and PCL sprain in his right knee as well as turf toe. Los Angeles will likely make Nacua's move to IR official at some point prior to Sunday's game in Arizona, leaving the Rams without their top two wideouts for at least one contest since Davante Adams (hamstring) isn't projected to be activated from IR until at least Week 11. Given the lack of healthy dependable options in the receiver room, the Rams could be actively looking to acquire an established wideout prior to Tuesday's trade deadline.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: IR stint appears likely
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Coach Sean McVay indicated Monday that Nacua (knee) is likely headed to injured reserve with a PCL/MCL sprain and turf toe, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
With Davante Adams (hamstring) already on IR, Nacua's injury situation represents another huge blow to the Rams offense. Tutu Atwell, Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington and CJ Daniels are the team's remaining healthy WRs, but a trade to bolster the position seems imperative ahead of Tuesday's deadline.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Will have MRI on knee Monday
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Nacua suffered a knee injury during Sunday's 20-13 win at Washington and will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine its extent, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The Rams already are without WR Davante Adams for a few more weeks after he underwent surgery on his left hamstring, and the team now may be sans Nacua if the results of Monday's testing go a certain way. L.A. doesn't believe that Nacua sustained a torn ACL, but the MRI will reveal what type of damage he incurred. Before picking up the injury on the Rams' final offensive snap, Nacua gathered in 14 of 19 targets for 150 yards and one touchdown and took two carries for 20 yards.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Busy day in Week 8 win
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Nacua secured 11 of 12 targets for 80 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 24-9 win over the Chargers on Sunday.
Nacua unsurprisingly led the Rams across the board in receptions, receiving yards and targets and did so by a wide margin. With Davante Adams (IR, hamstring) unavailable for the last two games, Nacua has drawn 22 total targets and scored twice, with Sunday's touchdown coming on an 18-yard catch and run in the latter portion of the third quarter. Nacua is being used in a shorter-area role than past seasons -- he's averaging a career-low 10.1 yards per catch -- but he'll remain an elite fantasy option in a Week 9 road matchup against the Commanders next Sunday.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Eight catches in Week 7 win
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Nacua brought in eight of 10 targets for 68 yards and a touchdown and rushed twice for 10 yards in the Rams' 35-21 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Nacua led the Rams in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the afternoon, playing through his calf injury without issue while also helping make up for the absence of Davante Adams (IR, hamstring). Nacua rounded out his busy day with his second touchdown catch of the season, which came from 11 yards out with just over four minutes remaining in the second quarter. Nacua figures to be even more involved than usual while Adams is sidelined, and he'll take a 45-485-2 line into a Week 8 home matchup against the Chargers next Sunday.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Is active Sunday
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Nacua (calf) is active for Sunday's game at Las Vegas, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Nacua's addition to the practice report Thursday due to a calf issue was more cause for concern for a roster riddled with injuries. While Nacua didn't practice Friday and was listed as questionable for Week 7, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Sunday morning that Rams are optimistic about Nacua's ability to play, and that now has been confirmed. Nacua could have his workload capped somewhat, but he'll be needed to power an air attack without Davante Adams (hamstring) for at least the next four contests. In his four appearances this season, Nacua has put together a 37-417-1 line on 52 targets.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Optimism regarding Week 7 status
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The Rams are optimistic that Nacua (calf), who is listed as questionable for Week 7, will play in Sunday's game at Las Vegas, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The injury-plagued Rams endured another scare this week when Nacua made an early exit from Thursday's practice due to a calf injury. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Friday that Nacua's new health concern is believed to be "more minor than anything else" and "not significant," but the wide receiver sat out the team's last Week 7 session and was listed as questionable ahead of the weekend. Nacua likely is poised for a pregame workout before L.A. makes a call on his status about 90 minutes before Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Won't practice Friday, to be questionable
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Nacua (calf) won't practice Friday and will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Las Vegas, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Nacua made an early exit from Thursday's practice due to a calf injury and officially went down as a limited participant. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Friday morning that Nacua's new health concern is "more minor than anything else" and "not significant." Nevertheless, Nacua is set for a pregame workout before the Rams make a decision on his status about 90 minutes before Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, per Barshop.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Exits Thursday's practice with calf injury
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Nacua suffered a calf injury during Thursday's practice and went down as a limited participant, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
Nacua already has dealt with psoas soreness (in August) and discomfort in his groin (in September), the latter of which cost him Weeks 2 and 3. With a new health concern in tow, it remains to be seen if he's in any danger of missing Sunday's contest at Las Vegas. Head coach Sean McVay likely will touch on Nacua's new health concern Friday, at which point the wide receiver may be tagged with a Week 7 game designation.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Tallies 80 yards in Week 6
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Nacua hauled in six of seven targets for 80 yards during Sunday's 18-16 loss to the Cardinals
The modest stat line for Nacua may indicate otherwise, but it was a subpar performance aside from the 43-yard connection he made with QB Matthew Stafford just before the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. As for his five other grabs, Nacua averaged just 7.4 YPC. It was a far cry from the 17-138-1 line on 24 targets that he put up during last Monday's overtime loss to the Bills, but he's still sitting on a healthy 37-417-1 line on 52 targets through his four appearances this season. Nacua and the 2-4 Rams will look to right the ship next Sunday at Las Vegas.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Career-best numbers in OT loss
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Nacua brought in 17 of 24 targets for 138 yards and a touchdown and rushed twice for nine yards in the Rams' 37-34 overtime loss to the Bills on Monday night.
Nacua's jaw-dropping stat line included new career highs in receptions and targets, as well as a team-high figure in receiving yards. The prolific receiver monopolized Matthew Stafford's attention even more than usual, although the one positive for the Bills' defense is it did a solid job keeping Nacua from doing much damage after the catch. The third-year pro also recorded his first receiving touchdown of the season on a picturesque two-yard over-the-shoulder catch early in the fourth quarter, and with his production Monday, he nearly made up for his two-game absence earlier in the campaign. Nacua will take a 31-337-1 line on 45 targets into a Week 6 divisional home matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Active as expected Sunday
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Nacua is active for Sunday's Week 4 matchup against the Eagles.
As expected, Nacua will make his return from a two-game absence due to what was originally labeled a hip issue and then further clarified as groin soreness. Earlier Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Nacua wasn't expected to operate under any type of limitations against Philadelphia. If that holds true, No. 2 receiver Davante Adams, who turned 23 targets into a 15-332-2 line during Nacua's absence, will be in line to see a notable hit to his overall opportunities against a typically stingy Eagles secondary.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: No limitations expected in return
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Nacua (hip) isn't expected to have limitations on his workload during Sunday's game in Philadelphia, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Having said that, the Rams will keep an eye on Nacua's conditioning once he steps on the field, something that ultimately could impact his snap count, but they're operating under the assumption that he's good for his typical allotment, when healthy. He missed the last two games due to what was listed by the team as a hip issue but head coach Sean McVay termed "soreness in his groin" unrelated to the psoas discomfort that he tended to in training camp. In his only appearance this season in Week 1 versus the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, Nacua handled 70 percent of the offensive snaps and reeled in five of nine targets for 74 yards.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Set to play Sunday
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Head coach Sean McVay said Nacua (hip) won't have an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game at Philadelphia, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
Nacua has missed the last two games due to a hip injury, but he's poised to return to action in Week 4 after taking part in all three practice sessions this week. McVay relayed to Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com on Friday that while Nacua "looked sharp" Thursday, the Rams are still honing in on exactly what kind of workload the wide receiver will be able to handle. In any case, fantasy managers can exhale now that Nacua again is available to game-day lineups.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Remains limited Thursday
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Nacua (hip) officially was listed as a limited participant on Thursday's injury report, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
Prior to Thursday's practice, offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase told Grosbard that Nacua was expected to be a full participant, and the wide receiver himself told Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com afterward that he was full. The resulting practice report said otherwise, and he thus still has some work to do potentially avoid a designation ahead of Sunday's game in Philadelphia.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: To be limited Wednesday
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Coach Sean McVay said Nacua (hip) will practice in a limited capacity Wednesday, Nate Atkins of The Athletic reports.
This will mark Nacua's first official practice since Sept. 18, as he missed the last two games due to a listed hip injury that McVay has termed "soreness in his groin" that's not related to the psoas discomfort that he tended to in training camp. On Monday, McVay relayed to Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register that he was "hopeful" Nacua will return this coming Sunday at Philadelphia, but McVay was a bit more firm Wednesday, saying he expects the wide receiver to play in Week 4, per Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site. Nacua likely will need to get back to full participation by Friday to avoid a designation ahead of the weekend.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Hopeful for Week 4 return
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Head coach Sean McVay said Monday that the Rams are "hopeful" Nacua (hip) will return to action for Sunday's game at Philadelphia, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
Nacua has missed the past two gams due to a hip injury (on official practice reports) or what McVay alternatively has called "soreness in his groin" that's unrelated to the psoas discomfort the wide receiver dealt with in training camp. McVay relayed to Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com on Friday that if Nacua doesn't play Sunday at Denver, which came to pass, he likely will be available Week 4. McVay was more subdued Monday, also telling Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times that Nacua's upcoming status is "to be determined." As a result, the will he or won't he suit up with Nacua likely will continue until close to next weekend's kickoff or even beyond that point.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Sits out Wednesday practice
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Nacua (groin) will not practice Wednesday, but head coach Sean McVay indicated he could practice later this week, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
Nacua sat out the final two practice sessions the Rams held prior to Monday's victory over the Giants and ultimately missed Week 2, and he remained unavailable Wednesday. If Nacua is able to get some work in for either or both of the next two days as McVay hopes, he has a chance to return to the field in Week 3.
