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 sprained posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), McVay said, and will miss at least four games after 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 to the blue medical tent. Nacua then returned to the game for a short time 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 occurred during a joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers, but was “a little bit more significant than the previous situation,” McVay said. Nacua missed several weeks before returning to practice 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's got four targeted passes, four receptions of almost 50 yards. He's got a jet sweep, he does things in the run game. He's a factor. He's one of those guys that makes a difference. And so it's unfortunate for him, and I'm bummed for the most important person.”
Nacua set records last season for most receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) by a rookie in NFL history.
The Rams left the Week 1 loss to the Lions with other significant injuries, especially on their offensive line. McVay said Joe Noteboom, who started at left tackle on Sunday, left the game with a sprained ankle and “will probably be out for a few weeks.”
Asked who he expected to play 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 recovering from an ankle injury. McVay said the Rams will “take it day by day” with his return.
Left guard Steve Avila left Sunday's game with a sprained MCL and is likely to go on injured reserve. Right guard Kevin Dotson, who left the locker room in Detroit wearing a protective boot on his left foot, has a lateral ankle sprain but is in recovery status. McVay said he is “hopeful” Dotson will be able to play against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.
Rams cornerback Cobie Durant injured his toe on Sunday, McVay said, but his injury is also a day-to-day issue. The Rams are already without cornerback Darious Williams, who will miss at least three more games while on injured reserve with a hamstring strain.
