The Los Angeles Rams fan base was given a positive update on Monday when it was determined that WR Puka Nacua’s knee injury sustained Sunday during a joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers was considered “not very serious” and that he would be week-to-week going forward.
While head coach Sean McVay did confirmed that the second-year receiver would miss some time, on Tuesday The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reported that McVay also added he anticipates that Nacua will be ready for Week 1 prep, as well as the season opening game itself.
Luckily for Los Angeles, McVay recently boasted about the team’s depth at the wide receiver position, specifically noting this Rams’ WR depth is as good as the team has ever had. Starting off on Nacua, McVay continued about guys like Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell, as well as praising rookie Jordan Whittington, who has been making a splash in camp thus far.
“He’s a stud,” McVay said of Nacua. “He’s all about the right stuff, as is Cooper. Demarcus Robinson, I think you’re seeing Tutu. I really thought as a whole, this is as good of depth as we have at the receiver position. Tyler Johnson’s comfortable in his second year, Xavier Smith’s made some good strides and Jordan Whittington is a really mature young rookie.”
While depth is great, Nacua was expected to be the Rams WR1 this season along side Cooper Kupp, so his potential loss could have been extremely detrimental to the team early. News of his hopeful return sooner than later has to be a big boost for a franchise that has dealt with a ton of injuries early in camp.
The Rams week-to-week designation on Nacua’s knee was somewhat ambiguous at the time, leaving many to wonder if it was a short term injury or something that could potentially linger through the first few weeks of the season. Now with clarification, it’s sounds like the LA offense not only dodged a major bullet, but should have Nacua ready to roll in Detroit for Week 1 Sunday night football.