The Rams will likely be facing part of the second half of the season and a playoff push without star wide receiver Puka Nacua.
In an update Monday, head coach Sean McVay said Nacua will be out for “a good amount of time” due to an MCL and PCL strain in his knee and turf toe. Nacua played in Sunday’s victory at Washington, finishing with 14 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown, but appeared to suffer a knee injury on the Rams’ final offensive snap.
“He’ll probably be a guy that we put on IR as a result of that,” McVay said.
The Rams’ last offensive play in their 20-13 road win was a jet sweep handoff to Nacua, who rushed for 5 yards.
The two-time Pro Bowl selection has 70 receptions for 715 yards and four touchdowns in seven games this season.
An IR designation requires a player miss a minimum of four games from the date of the designation. IR requirements count games, not weeks, so the Rams’ Week 11 bye does not count toward that four-game minimum total. Nacua would likely be out until at least Week 15 against the Jets.
Nacua has a reputation for a physical style of play, part of what makes him one of the toughest matchups in the league. He missed two games in September with a groin injury after missing time in training camp with a core muscle injury. Nacua also strained his calf in practice late last month.
MCL or PCL sprains involves an injury to knee ligaments and usually require weeks of recovery. Recovery from turf toe, a sometimes nagging sprain of the main joint of the big toe, largely depends on the severity of the injury.
Nacua’s expected absence comes as receiver Davante Adams remains sidelined with a hamstring injury with no date set for return. He was expected to be back in late November or early December.
Their injuries leave quarterback Matthew Stafford with a wide receiving group of Tutu Atwell, Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington and CJ Daniels, plus tight ends Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen.
McVay also said starting guard Steve Avila will be out for a significant period with a hamstring injury.
The Rams sit third in the NFC West at 5-4 behind Seattle (5-4) and first-place San Francisco (7-1).