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LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua is likely headed to injured reserve with an MCL/PCL sprain and turf toe, coach Sean McVay announced on Monday.
Nacua suffered the injuries on the Rams’ final offensive play in Sunday’s 20-13 win over the Washington Commanders. Nacua took a jet sweep for 5 yards while looking for a first down to end the game before his knee collided with a defender.
This is the third injury Nacua has dealt with in his contract year. He missed two games with a hip injury and also suffered a calf injury that he has played through the past three games. His heavy workload and physical style were on display Sunday, when he caught 14 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown and had two carries for 20 yards.
Los Angeles will now be down two star receivers, with Davante Adams on injured reserve with the hamstring he ruptured in a Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Adams was expected to miss six to 10 weeks at the time of his injury, which would mean he’s at least three weeks away.
The Rams will play the Cardinals again on Sunday before their Week 11 bye. Then they begin a brutal stretch that starts with a home Thanksgiving Eve matchup against the Green Bay Packers, then a home Thursday nighter against the Kansas City Chiefs, followed by a road game at the NFC West-leading San Francisco 49ers. If Nacua is indeed placed on IR, he’d miss at least those four games.
With those two out, the Rams will look to a mix of Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington and CJ Daniels at wide receiver. That group has combined for five catches in the three games that Adams has missed. On Sunday, Nacua accounted for 83 percent of the team’s production at wide receiver.
The Rams are also missing tight end Terrance Ferguson, who was set to return against the Commanders but then pulled his hamstring in Friday’s practice and is expected to miss a couple more weeks, McVay said.
With no Nacua, Adams or Ferguson right now, the Rams could explore a trade for a pass catcher before Tuesday’s deadline.
The injuries have been constant for the Rams this season. Reigning defensive player of the year Myles Garrett missed seven games after knee surgery but returned with a three-sack performance in Sunday’s victory. All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie has missed three of the past four games, including Sunday, with a back injury.
Nose tackle Poona Ford was lost for the season with a triceps injury, and defensive end Kobie Turner is on IR with a groin injury, though Los Angeles hopes to get him back shortly after the bye week. Left guard Steve Avila will also miss time with a hamstring strain, McVay said on Monday.
The Rams have won three straight games to get to 5-4, but they will have to get creative to overcome the injuries that keep piling up.
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