Player News

• Rams' Puka Nacua: Facing 5-to-7-week absence

  4D ago • By RotoWire

  Nacua could miss between five and seven weeks, depending on how quickly he recovers from a PCL sprain in his right knee, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN. The second-year wideout had initially hurt his right knee early in training camp and missed the entire preseason before being cleared to play Week 1, only to exit last Sunday's season-opening overtime loss to the Lions after reinjuring the same knee. The estimated 5-to-7-week recovery timeline doesn't come as a major surprise, as head coach Sean McVay suggested after Nacua was placed on injured reserve Wednesday that the receiver could miss more than the minimum four games. While the Rams have a well-timed bye Week 6 that would provide Nacua with some extra recovery time before he would first eligible to play Week 7 against the Raiders on Oct. 20, the team believes the receiver's status for that game as well as the following Thursday night versus the Vikings in Week 8 could be in jeopardy. For whatever length of time Nacua misses, Cooper Kupp will likely dominate the targets in the passing game as the Rams' clear No. 1 option, while tight end Colby Parkinson and receivers Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson could be in store for expanded profiles on offense.

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• Rams' Puka Nacua: May miss more than four games

  7D ago • By RotoWire

  Rams head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that Nacua (knee) has a "unique" injury that may require him to miss more than the required four games while on injured reserve, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports. The Rams conveniently have a Week 6 bye that affords Nacua and other teammates on IR some extra recovery time before a potential return Week 7 against the Raiders, but McVay's comments suggest that the second-year receiver is no lock to be ready for activation when first eligible. The team officially placed Nacua on IR on Wednesday due to a PCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered in Sunday's season-opening loss to Detroit, which was an aggravation of the bursa sac issue that he sustained Aug. 4. As long as Nacua is sidelined, Cooper Kupp will be the Rams' clear top wide receiver, with Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson the next players up at the position.

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• Rams' Puka Nacua: Moves to IR

  7D ago • By RotoWire

  The Rams placed Nacua (knee) on injured reserve Wedensday. As expected, Nacua will now miss at least the Rams' next four games after landing on IR. In his absence, fellow wideout Cooper Kupp should be locked in as the clear-cut top target for quarterback Matt Stafford, while wideouts Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson and tight end Colby Parkinson are candidates to see expanded roles in the passing offense.

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• Rams' Puka Nacua: Headed to IR

  9D ago • By RotoWire

  The Rams are expected to place Nacua (knee) on injured reserve during the upcoming week, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, head coach Sean McVay clarified his earlier comments from Monday and confirmed that Nacua is indeed headed for IR. In that context, the wideout will be eligible to return to action as soon as Oct. 20 against the Raiders. In Nacua's looming absence, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington are candidates to see added work behind top wideout Cooper Kupp.

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• Rams' Puka Nacua: Week-to-week, needs more tests

  9D ago • By RotoWire

  Nacua (knee) is considered week-to-week Monday after aggravating the right knee injury he dealt with during the preseason in Sunday's 26-20 overtime loss to the Lions, and he's scheduled to undergo further testing, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Nacua seems likely to miss at least the Rams' road matchup against Arizona in Week 2 as he works to recover from his aggravated knee injury, though the second-year pro may not receive a clear recovery timetable until after the conclusion of his remaining medical tests. Head coach Sean McVay previously called the injury that sidelined Nacua in training camp a bursa sac issue. As long as Nacua remains sidelined, Cooper Kupp will stand to benefit from increased target volume as the definitive No. 1 target for quarterback Matthew Stafford, while Demarcus Robinson will figure to step up as the No. 2 WR. Tyler Johnson could step into the No. 3 spot after he played 66 percent of offensive snaps Sunday against Detroit.

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