Rams All-Pro Puka Nacua likely to be placed on injured reserve with knee, toe injuries

The Los Angeles Rams (5-4) cannot recover from their injury. Following All-Pro Edge Rusher Myles Garrett’s triumphant return to the lineup in their Week 9 win over the Washington Commanders, All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua is expected to go on injured reserve.

Coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday that Nacua, who is dealing with MCL and PCL sprains in addition to a turf toe, will likely be placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least four games. This is a big blow for the Rams since Nacua led the NFL in catches (129), first downs receiving (80) and yards per game (107.2) last season. He is also the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards per game with a career average of 96.2. This season, he has 70 catches for 715 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns while adding 41 rushing yards and a touchdown on 7 carries. Nacua leads the Rams in all receiving metrics this season while being tied for the team lead in touchdowns with six-time Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams. In 2026, he represents 27.6% of the Rams’ team target share, the eighth-highest rate in the entire NFL this season.

Nacua now joins Adams (hamstring) on ​​injured reserve. Adams injured his hamstring in the team’s Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and McVay said at the time that Adams was expected to miss 6 to 10 weeks. This means that the earliest Adams could return is against his former team, the Green Bay Packers, in Week 12 on November 25. Nacua’s first return would be in Week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys on December 20, if he misses at least four games. Fortunately for Nacua, Los Angeles’ Week 11 bye also gives him an extra week to heal.

After Nacua and Adams, Los Angeles running back Kyren Williams leads the Rams in targets (46), and he is No. 2 on the team in catches with 36. Tight end Tyler Higbee is No. 3 on the team in receiving yards with 287 after Nacua and Adams, and tight end Davis Allen (two receiving touchdowns) is No. 3 on the team in receiving touchdowns behind Los Angeles’ two injured stars. Angeles.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford will need to work magic with a depleted arsenal of playmakers, in addition to leaning on Williams and Blake Corum in the running game, in order to maximize the Rams’ “all in” 2.0 in 2026.