Report reveals extent of injury suffered by Puka Nacua in practice

October 15, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Puka Nacua’s injury-riddled season continues, but he at least appears to have avoided a doomsday scenario this time around.

The Los Angeles Rams star receiver Nacua was forced to exit practice on Thursday due to a knee injury. Nacua had already missed all but two games this season with a right knee issue, and the injury he suffered on Thursday was also to that exact same knee, per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.

A couple of hours later though, Adam Schefter of ESPN shared some good news. Schefter reports that Nacua’s knee injury is not believed to be serious. While Nacua’s status for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks is now in doubt, it does not appear he suffered any significant injury, Schefter adds.

The 23-year-old Nacua burst onto the scene for the Rams as a rookie last year, playing in all 17 games and logging a monster 1,486 receiving yards and six touchdowns. That was good enough for Nacua to earn a Pro Bowl nod as well as Second Team All-Pro honors.

But Nacua has not been able to get on track in 2024 ever since hurting his right knee in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions while making a catch (video here). He landed on injured reserve and missed five games before returning in a Week 8 win against Minnesota.

But now Nacua may be headed right back to the sidelines for Week 9 against Seattle. Though Nacua’s injury fortunately does not appear to be serious, the setback is still a tough one, especially since the Rams’ other star wideout has been ailing for much of this season as well.