Rams’ Puka Nacua out at least a month with several injuries, to miss Cardinals game

Nacua will be out for the Rams' game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Nov 9, 2026, 5:56 PM

Rams' Puka Nacua out at least a month with several injuries, to miss Cardinals game....

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

(AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Rams receiver Puka Nacua is expected to be out for at least a month after the All-Pro sprained ligaments in his right knee and developed turf toe during Los Angeles’ win at Washington on Sunday.

Coach Sean McVay said Monday that the Rams expect to put Nacua on injured reserve. He’ll join fellow star receiver Davante Adams, who has no set return date from his hamstring injury.

With the news, Nacua will be out for the Rams’ game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Rams (5-4) are on a three-game winning streak after losing to the Cardinals in Week 6.

McVay also said starting guard Steve Avila will be out for a significant period with a hamstring injury. Avila is key to the success of the Rams’ running game.

McVay’s offense will be without Matthew Stafford’s top two targets for an extended period, a devastating blow to a team that began the season as a Super Bowl favorite.

Nacua was injured on his final touch in the Rams’ 20-13 victory over the Commanders when he took a hard tackle on a jet sweep. He had a brace on his knee after the game on the sideline.

Nacua is the backbone of Los Angeles’ offense, making 70 receptions in just seven games for 715 yards and four touchdowns.

His physical style of play is a key to his success, but he missed two games in September with a groin injury after missing time in camp with a core muscle injury, and he strained his calf in practice late last month.

The Rams are not the only team walking into Sunday’s game shorthanded. Arizona announced Monday that wide receiver Michael Wilson will miss the rest of the season with a neck injury.

Cardinals starting quarterback Gardner Minshew is also being evaluated for an elbow injury, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting that Minshew is “feared” to have suffered a torn UCL and could miss the rest of the season. Rookie quarterback Carson Beck is in line to make his NFL debut on Sunday if Minshew is out.

Center Hjalte Froholdt is also in the concussion protocol.

What does the Rams’ offense look like with Nacua and Adams out?

With Nacua and Adams out, the Rams’ healthy wide receivers currently are Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington and CJ Daniels.

Among the four receivers, Atwell has the most NFL experience with 70 games played across five seasons. He has 112 career receptions for 1,634 yards and five touchdowns. Mumpfield leads the group this season with 11 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown.

Barring a trade and/or signing by the Rams, Stafford’s top option could look to be tight end Tyler Higbee, who is third on the team in receiving with 28 catches on 39 targets for 287 yards and a touchdown.

Running back Kyren Williams could be a receiving option out of the backfield, as he has registered 36 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown this season.

Arizona Sports’ Bailey Leasure contributed to this story.