The Los Angeles Rams are placing star wide receiver Puka Nacua on injured reserve.
It is another major blow to Sean McVay and his star-studded team’s hopes of winning the Super Bowl at their own SoFi Stadium in February.
The Rams currently sit at 5-4 after an underwhelming start to the season and will now be without one of their most dangerous weapons for at least four games.
All-Pro Nacua will be sidelined for at least a month after he sprained ligaments in his right knee and big toe on the final offensive snap of the Rams’ 20-13 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
He joins Davante Adams, who has no set return date after incurring a noncontact hamstring injury last month, on injured reserve.
Nacua’s injury occurred right when the Rams were finishing off their third consecutive victory and getting back on track toward their preseason goals with Myles Garrett’s return from a seven-game absence.
The Los Angeles Rams are placing star wide receiver Puka Nacua on injured reserve.
It is another blow to Sean McVay and his star-studded team’s hopes of winning the Super Bowl
Nacua suffered a knee injury in the Los Angeles Rams’ win over the Commanders last week
Losing Nacua is a problem for the Rams because they don’t have an established No. 3 receiver for quarterback Matthew Stafford to throw to.
Last season, Nacua and Adams made 78.4 percent of the catches by all of the wide receivers on Los Angeles’ roster. No other wideout had more than 18 receptions.
This season, the disparity is even more stark: Nacua and Adams have made 100 of the Rams’ 120 receptions by wideouts, and nobody else has more than Konata Mumpfield’s 11 grabs.
Nacua will now miss games against the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. Three of those are against potential playoff contenders.
Against the Commanders, Nacua racked up 150 receiving yards for the ninth time in his career as the Rams won 20-13 – only Justin Jefferson (11) amassed more in his first four NFL seasons.
Nacua was targeted 19 times by Stafford and finished with 14 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown as the Rams (5-4) moved above .500 for the first time this season.
Nacua made a leaping catch in the corner of the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown that broke a 13-all tie early in the fourth quarter.
Garrett, meanwhile, had three sacks and a forced fumble in his return as Los Angeles held on for a third straight victory.
