Sean McVay: Puka Nacua Has Knee Ligament Sprains

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is in danger of landing on the injured reserve list after sustaining posterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament sprains in his knee, head coach Sean McVay announced.

Nacua sustained the injury on the last offensive play of the game against the Washington Commanders. The play saw the receiver gain five yards on a third-down carry before absorbing a heavy tackle that left him on the turf.

He walked off the field under his own power after remaining down momentarily. Despite the late-game exit, Nacua finished the matchup with 14 receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown, drawing 19 targets from quarterback Matthew Stafford.

BREAKING: Rams WR Puka Nacua headed to IR with MCL, PCL INJURY

Medical staff scheduled an MRI for Monday to confirm the severity of the ligament sprains. The Rams hold a 5-4 record following the contest, sitting outside the current playoff picture as they await official diagnostic results.

Up the coast in the NFC West, the San Francisco 49ers face a strict deadline regarding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The NFL officially reinstated Aiyuk to the franchise on Monday by removing him from the reserve list, granting the team a two-week exemption before he must count toward the 53-man roster limit.

Front-office officials have indicated they do not intend to play Aiyuk in a 49ers uniform again. San Francisco must either trade the receiver before a deadline expiring in less than 24 hours or release him within the league-granted window.

Aiyuk has not appeared in an NFL game since suffering a knee injury in October 2024. The receiver maintains that he is fully healthy and prepared to return to action, while the 49ers currently lead the division with a 7-1 record.

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Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief

Daniel Richardson is the Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, where he leads the editorial team and oversees all published content across nine sport verticals. With over 15 years in sports journalism, Daniel has reported from the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, NFL Super Bowls, NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tennis tournaments. He previously served as Senior Sports Editor at Reuters and holds a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Recognized by the Sports Journalists' Association for excellence in reporting, Daniel is a member of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). His editorial philosophy centers on accuracy, depth, and fair coverage — ensuring every story published on Archysport meets the highest standards of sports journalism.

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