LOS ANGELES — Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua aggravated his knee injury against the Detroit Lions on Sunday night and will be placed on injured reserve, coach Sean McVay said Monday.
Nacua has a PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) sprain, McVay said, and will miss at least four games by being placed on IR.
Nacua suffered the injury while making a catch midway through the second quarter of the 26-20 overtime loss to the Lions. He limped off the field and went into the blue medical tent. Nacua later returned to the game for a short stint before exiting. He had four catches for 35 yards in Sunday’s game before the injury.
The injury was an aggravation of an Aug. 4 injury that took place during a joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers but was “a little bit more significant than what was previously the situation,” McVay said. Nacua missed several weeks before returning to practice on Aug. 26. The receiver was listed as a full participant in the week leading up to Sunday’s game in Detroit.
“You can see he’s an impact player,” McVay said. “He gets four targets, he has four catches for almost 50 yards. He has a jet sweep, he does stuff in the run game. He’s a factor. He just is one of those guys that just makes a difference. And so, it’s unfortunate for him, and I’m bummed out for the person more importantly.”
Nacua set records last season for most receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) by a rookie in NFL history.
The Rams left their Week 1 loss to the Lions with several other significant injuries, especially to their offensive line. McVay said Joe Noteboom, who started at left tackle Sunday, left the game with a high ankle sprain and will “probably be out for a few weeks.”
When asked who he anticipated playing left tackle this week, McVay said he would have a better answer on that later this week. Noteboom was filling in for Alaric Jackson, who is suspended for the first two games of the season. The Rams were also without right tackle Rob Havenstein in Week 1, as he is coming back from an ankle injury. McVay said the Rams will “take it a day at a time” with his return.
Left guard Steve Avila left Sunday’s game with an MCL sprain and is likely to go on injured reserve. Right guard Kevin Dotson, who left the locker room in Detroit with a protective boot on his left foot, has a lateral sprain to his ankle but is day-to-day. McVay said he’s “hopeful” Dotson will be good to play against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.
Rams cornerback Cobie Durant injured his toe Sunday, McVay said, but his injury is also day-to-day. The Rams are already without cornerback Darious Williams, who will miss at least three more games while on IR with a hamstring strain.