Rams’ Puka Nacua headed to IR with knee injury ahead of Cardinals game

Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua suffered a knee injury during the season opener Sunday that will put him on the injured reserve, head coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday.

The Rams visit the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday without their best receiver, who led the team with 1,486 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2023.

Nacua suffered a knee injury in the first half of a loss to the Detroit Lions and was ruled out. It’s a reaggravation of a PCL injury he dealt with this summer, McVay said.

Nacua had four catches for 35 yards on Sunday night before he was hurt. He was a record-setting rookie last season, earning Pro Bowl recognition.

The Rams were banged up on the offensive line entering the game and the position group took more hits in the Motor City.

Left tackle Joe Noteboom was taken from the sideline to the locker room in a cart in the second quarter with an ankle injury. He was starting the game in place of Alaric Jackson, who is serving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Left guard Steve Avila later departed with a knee injury, forcing the Rams to shuffle their line even more and put A.J. Arcuri at left tackle after elevating him from the practice squad. Avila will miss the Cardinals game as well.

Starting OL Steve Avila suffered an MCL sprain and is a candidate for IR, McVay said. OL Joe Noteboom (ankle) will be week to week, per Sean McVay. Starting RG Kevin Dotson suffered a lateral ankle sprain and is day to day. He was in a boot postgame. McVay hopeful he is ok.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) September 9, 2024

The Cardinals, meanwhile, came out of their season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills relatively cleanly, though a knee injury to starting right tackle Jonah Williams could linger into the next week.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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