After a breakout rookie campaign, Puka Nacua’s sophomore follow-up is off to a rough start.
The Los Angeles Rams’ wide receiver aggravated a PCL injury on Sunday night against the Detroit Lions, after dealing with the injury to his knee throughout the summer.
Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday that Nacua will be placed on injured reserve and miss at least the team’s next four games.
Despite being an unheralded fifth-round pick, Nacua burst on to the scene with the Rams last season. In his NFL debut, he racked up 10 catches for 119 yards and didn’t slow down the rest of the way.
He finished the 2023-24 campaign with 105 catches for 1,486 yards (fourth in the NFL) and six touchdowns while starting all 17 regular-season games. That effort set the rookie record for most receptions and most receiving yards, a mark held by Bill Groman of the Houston Oilers for 63 years.
In his second NFL game, he set the record for most receptions by a rookie in a single game when he grabbed 17 passes on 20 targets for 147 yards against the San Francisco 49ers.
On Sunday in the Rams’ Week 1 loss, it was in the second quarter that Nacua re-aggravated the knee injury. After leaving the game once he did initially get back on the field but then immediately returned to the sideline before being carted off at halftime.
The one-time Pro Bowl selection and runner-up for offensive Rookie of the Year finished the game with four catches for 35 yards before he left.
Los Angeles will take on the Arizona Cardinals without Nacua on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET / 1:05 p.m. PT.