Locals in the NFL: Rams expected to place Puka Nacua on IR
Nov 9, 2026, 3:30 PM
Updating Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua's injury status before Week 10 of the 2026 NFL season. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Los Angeles Rams are expected to be without All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua for at least the next four games.
Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters that Los Angeles is expected to place Nacua on injured reserve with MCL and PCL sprains, along with a turf toe injury revealed by an MRI on Monday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
It is a significant blow to a Rams offense built heavily around Nacua’s volume, physicality, and yards-after-catch ability. The former BYU and Orem High standout has been one of the NFL’s most productive receivers this season, and his absence will force Los Angeles to replace one of the league’s most reliable offensive engines.
RELATED: Puka Nacua reportedly injured late in Rams win
The #Rams are expected to place WR Puka Nacua on Injured Reserve with MCL and PCL sprains, plus turf toe, coach Sean McVay told reporters. https://t.co/LLWLyGwVMy
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 9, 2026
The injury occurred on the Rams’ final offensive snap of Sunday’s win over the Washington Commanders, when Nacua gained five yards on a jet sweep. It was his 23rd touch of the game, underscoring how central he has become to Los Angeles’ attack.
Nacua has followed last season’s first-team All-Pro campaign with another dominant stretch. He has 70 catches for 715 yards and four touchdowns this season despite missing two early-season games. His 715 receiving yards rank seventh in the NFL, while his 102.1 receiving yards per game rank second behind 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Nacua also leads the league with 372 yards after the catch, a number that highlights how difficult it will be to replace him with one player.
Now, the Rams will have to rework their passing game without their most dependable target. Whether through a larger role for their remaining receivers, more involvement from the tight ends, or a heavier workload in the run game, Los Angeles must find a way to keep its offense on schedule while Nacua recovers.
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About Puka Nacua
Nacua’s path to Los Angeles began at Orem High, where he set multiple state records before starting his college career at Washington.
After two seasons with the Huskies, he transferred to BYU ahead of the 2021 season. He finished his two-year Cougars career with 91 catches for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding five rushing touchdowns.
The Rams selected Nacua in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft with the No. 177 overall pick. He quickly made that selection look like a bargain.
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Nacua set NFL rookie records with 105 catches and 1,486 receiving yards in 2023, scoring six touchdowns. He earned second-team All-Pro honors and finished second to C.J. Stroud in voting for AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Injuries limited Nacua during his second season, but he still finished with 79 catches for 990 yards and three touchdowns.
He followed that with his first first-team All-Pro selection in 2025, leading the NFL with 129 catches. He finished with 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in the NFL, Locals in MLB, and the Utah State Aggies. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
Parts of this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team.
