Puka Nacua faces at least four games on the sidelines after the Los Angeles Rams placed their star wide receiver on injured reserve on Thursday.
Nacua sustained a right medial collateral ligament (MCL) knee injury and a toe injury during Sunday’s victory over the Washington Commanders, ESPN Deportes reported. Head coach Sean McVay described the wideout as facing an extended absence.
“Periodo de tiempo prolongado,” McVay said of the recovery timeline, using Spanish terms cited by ESPN Deportes.
Wednesday brought a brief indication from McVay that the team might keep Nacua on the active roster due to roster construction rules. By Thursday, the Rams reversed course, opening a spot to add wide receiver Brennan Presley to the active roster and place wide receiver Tyler Scott on the practice squad.
Placement on injured reserve rules Nacua out for contests against the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Francisco 49ers.
Through seven games this season, Nacua hauled in 70 receptions for 715 yards and four touchdowns. He previously missed Weeks 2 and 3 due to a hip injury.
ESPN Research notes that Nacua’s 70 catches stand as the highest total by any player through their first seven games of a season in NFL history.
“Plazo realista,” McVay said regarding a target return following the Rams’ Week 12 home game against the Packers.
Los Angeles promoted wide receiver Xavier Smith to the active roster on Tuesday. Smith spent the first three weeks of the season with the club before being released.
The team also placed wide receiver Jordan Whittington on injured reserve on Tuesday due to a back injury.
McVay said that the franchise intends to activate tight end Terrance Ferguson from injured reserve before his 21-day practice window expires. Ferguson resumed workouts last week after suffering an ankle injury in Week 3.
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