Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay provided an encouraging update Tuesday on the injury status of wide receiver Puka Nacua.
Two days after Nacua left a joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers with an apparent knee injury, McVay told reporters that Nacua will be ready for the team’s Week 1 game against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 8 after he burst a bursa sac in his right knee.
“It’s just gonna be week to week with him. Nothing serious, nothing structurally,” McVay said, when he was asked about Nacua. “He’ll be in good shape and he’ll recover and we’ll be ready to go. No threat of anything for Detroit.”
After Nacua left the joint practice, he was seen later Sunday with ice wrapped around his right knee, according to The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue. At the time, McVay didn’t have an update on the severity of the injury.
The coach agreed to a reporter’s question on Tuesday that the plan wasn’t to have Nacua play in the preseason anyway, and said they will take it “week to week” in preparation for getting the former BYU wide receiver ready for the season opener.
“I don’t anticipate him being affected in terms of even that prep for the opener,” McVay said. “Fortunately, it’s not gonna affect his ability to be ready to roll for the season.”
Nacua, the former BYU and Orem High star who also played collegiately at Washington, is coming off a record-setting rookie season with Los Angeles.
After being a fifth-round draft pick, Nacua broke the NFL rookie record for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) during a 2023 campaign that earned him Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
He finished second behind Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud for Associated Press 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
The Rams will open preseason play on Sunday with a home game against the Dallas Cowboys.