In a stunning blow to the Los Angeles Rams, wide receiver Puka Nacua went down with a knee injury during Sunday’s heartbreaking 26-20 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions. The second-year star’s absence left a void in the Rams’ offense, and the big question on everyone’s mind now is just how long Nacua will be sidelined.
The injury occurred when Nacua was tackled after making a 6-yard reception in the second quarter. Despite briefly returning to the game near the end of the first half, Nacua’s comeback was cut short. The NBC broadcast captured the heartbreaking moment when Nacua had to be carted off the field and later ruled out after halftime.
At the time of his injury, Nacua had already made an impact with four receptions for 35 yards and even had seven yards on a rushing attempt. His absence forced Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to turn to veteran Cooper Kupp as his primary target against the Lions. Stafford targeted Kupp an astonishing 21 times, resulting in 14 completions for 110 yards and a touchdown – a career-high for Kupp.
This is not the first time Nacua has had to deal with a knee injury, as he missed multiple weeks of training camp earlier in the year after a similar incident during a joint practice. However, he did manage to return to practice following the Rams’ final preseason game, giving hope to fans that the talented young receiver will be back on the field sooner rather than later.
As the Rams prepare for their upcoming games without Nacua, the team will undoubtedly have to adjust their gameplay and find new ways to make up for his absence. Only time will tell how long Nacua will be sidelined, but one thing is for certain – his presence will be sorely missed on the field.
