Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is set to go on injured reserve after suffering MCL, PCL and turf toe injuries in Sunday’s win over the Commanders.
Nacua’s injuries occurred on the Rams’ final offensive play when he was tackled after rushing for five yards on third-and-11. Nacua took a handoff on the play and head coach Sean McVay was asked at a Monday press conference if he second-guessed himself for putting Nacua in position to take a hit at that point in the game.
McVay said he’s “kicking myself about those kinds of things” and called it something the Rams have to think about “internally” as they move forward.
“I’d be lying to you if I said I haven’t questioned the decision-making on that last play over and over in my head of what could have been another option that you felt like could have gotten a conversion, and maybe ended the game that would’ve led to him not taking a violent hit to his right knee,” McVay said. “It’s stuff that I feel tremendous responsibility for, and we’ve got to be able to figure out how to protect these guys while also putting them in positions that help our team and allow them to be able to shine. He’s a guy we have to be intentional about because it’s a bummer. Because he can do so much, you want to make sure you don’t take that for granted.”
With Nacua and Davante Adams now out for the indefinite future, the Rams may be in the market for receiving help before the trade deadline passes at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. They do not have their 2027 first- or third-round picks, their 2028 second-round pick or their 2029 third-round pick thanks to their trades for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie.