The Rams will likely be facing part of the second half of the season and a playoff push without star wide receiver Puka Nacua.
In an update Monday, head coach Sean McVay said Nacua will be out for “a good amount of time” due to an MCL and PCL strain in his knee and turf toe. Nacua played in Sunday’s victory at Washington, finishing with 14 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown, but appeared to suffer a knee injury on the Rams’ final offensive snap.
“He’ll probably be a guy that we put on IR as a result of that,” McVay said.
The Rams’ last offensive play in their 20-13 road win was a jet sweep handoff to Nacua, who rushed for 5 yards.
The two-time Pro Bowl selection has 70 receptions for 715 yards and four touchdowns in seven games this season.
An IR designation requires a player miss a minimum of four games from the date of the designation. IR requirements count games, not weeks, so the Rams’ Week 11 bye does not count toward that four-game minimum total. Nacua would likely be out until at least Week 15 against the Jets.
Nacua’s expected absence comes as receiver Davante Adams remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. He was expected to return in late November or early December.
Their injuries leave quarterback Matthew Stafford with a wide receiving group of Tutu Atwell, Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington and CJ Daniels, plus tight ends Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen.
