Thousand Oaks, Calif. – The Los Angeles Rams’ wide receiver, Puka Nacua, has been listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers due to an oblique injury. Despite this, Rams coach Sean McVay expressed confidence that the rookie receiver would be ready to go.
Taking a cautious approach, McVay stated, “We’re being smart with him. You guys saw what a physical performance he had last week… We just wanted to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to get him feeling as good as possible by Sunday.”
Nacua did not participate in Thursday’s practice session. McVay revealed that the injury occurred during the previous game against the Seattle Seahawks. In that game, Nacua, a fifth-round draft pick, showcased his talent with an impressive performance. He recorded 10 catches for 119 yards, setting a franchise record for receiving yards in a rookie’s first game since 2000.
The Rams are currently dealing with the absence of star wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Kupp will be eligible to return in Week 5, and when asked about his potential availability for that game against the Philadelphia Eagles, McVay expressed hope.
“We’re hopeful about that,” McVay said. He further explained the decision to place Kupp on injured reserve, stating, “The reason that we put him on IR was so that, you know, that if it’s going to be those four weeks that he’s mandated to be able to miss, and then we can take him off of the IR and be available for that fifth week. That was the reason that we made that decision that we did last week.”
McVay also emphasized the importance of protecting Kupp from rushing back too soon, even though he is eager to return to the field. Describing Kupp as a highly competitive player, McVay stated, “Sometimes it’s like, all right, well, let’s protect you from you because you’re such an elite competitor.”
The Rams have reason to be optimistic about their receiving corps with the potential return of Cooper Kupp in Week 5 and the impressive debut of Puka Nacua. These young talents bring diversity and depth to the team’s offense, providing quarterback Matthew Stafford with valuable options in the passing game.
As the Rams prepare to face the San Francisco 49ers, they remain confident in Nacua’s ability to overcome his oblique injury and contribute to the team’s success. With Puka Nacua and hopefully Cooper Kupp back in action soon, the Rams’ passing attack looks poised to continue making an impact throughout the season.
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