Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay announced Monday that All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua will likely be placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least four games. Nacua is dealing with MCL and PCL sprains as well as turf toe, a significant blow to a Rams offense that already lost star wideout Davante Adams to a hamstring injury in Week 6.
Nacua, who led the NFL last season with 129 catches, 80 receiving first downs and 107.2 receiving yards per game, holds the league's all-time career average of 96.2 yards per game. Through nine games in 2026, he has 70 receptions for 715 yards and four touchdowns, adding 41 rushing yards and a score on seven carries. He leads the Rams in every receiving category and is tied with Adams for the team lead in receiving touchdowns. His 27.6% target share ranks eighth in the NFL this season.
Adams, a six-time Pro Bowler, is expected to miss six to 10 weeks, with his earliest possible return in Week 12 against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 25. Nacua's earliest return would be Week 15 versus the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 20, though the Rams' Week 11 bye provides an extra week of recovery. In their absence, running back Kyren Williams leads the team with 46 targets and 36 catches, while tight end Tyler Higbee has 287 receiving yards and Davis Allen has two touchdown catches. Quarterback Matthew Stafford will need to rely heavily on Williams, rookie Blake Corum and the remaining pass catchers to keep Los Angeles' "all in" 2.0 push alive.
