Puka leaves early, McVay unsure what happened

Nacua will return after getting in a Friday full practice and should be a WR1 play, even against the Eagles’ vaunted secondary. McVay noted that they are still working through how they will navigate his snap count, so Davante Adams should remain near the WR1 line this week as they reintegrate Nacua. But nobody is sitting Puka Nacua in a standard league.

Scheelhaase also said that Nacua “twisted” to catch a pass thrown behind him yesterday, which the offensive coordinator took as a good sign. Nacua is on track to face the Eagles in Week 4. As long as he gets through the practice week without suffering a setback, Nacua is an elite WR1 this week.

McVay also said that Nacua will be limited at today’s practice. Nacua has not played since injuring his groin in Week 1 against the 49ers. If active in Week 4, he will be a no-brainer WR1, though it would be great to see him log two full practice sessions over the next two days. The Rams’ pass-catching corps has dealt with an influx of injuries in recent weeks. Getting their star player back would be huge.

We continue to get very little concrete news from McVay and the Rams regarding the injury, expected status, or recovery timeline for star wide receiver Puka Nacua. The most conclusive information given the previous two weeks is that the groin injury Nacua is dealing with is not related to the psoas injury he dealt with this offseason, although some have speculated that the verbiage used to describe the injury sounded like a sports hernia. Even that is pure speculation. Fantasy managers are left waiting in the holding pattern for more concrete news from their first-round fantasy selection. Davante Adams would clearly be in line to benefit from another absence after setting a career-high in receiving yards in consecutive games the previous two weeks.

Nacua came into the weekend listed as doubtful but was seen working out before the game to see if he would be able to go. He’ll ultimately be held out for the second consecutive game as the Rams look to improve to 2-1. Davante Adams vaults into the top-tier WR1 range in Nacua’s absence. Also inactive for the Rams are DB Kam Kinchens, WR CJ Daniels, WR Tutu Atwell, QB Ty Simpson, S Maximus Pulley, and OL Bill Murray

Schefter noted that the team doesn’t believe he will need surgery, but it could be an option if things don’t improve. The team is listing it as a hip injury, but the main issue has been a groin injury which would presumably require core muscle surgery. That would sideline him for multiple months. Schefter added that Nacua could return as soon as Week 4 if he does improve. Nacua did not practice once this week before being listed as doubtful versus Denver. Nacua’s short and long-term status hangs in the balance right now. It sounds like we’ll know pretty soon whether this is a lost season or not.

Nacua will not practice today, either. The bad news comes straight from Rams coach Sean McVay. With Nacua sidelined, WR Davante Adams must be treated as a fantasy football WR1 and TE Terrance Ferguson can be expected to operate as the team’s No. 2 pass catcher. He is a worthwhile TE1 starter.

Nacua seems unlikely to play in Week 3 against the Broncos. Rams coach Sean McVay said earlier today that Nacua is “not making great progress,” and his practice participation level reflects that. Rams WR Davante Adams can be treated as a WR1 this week if Nacua is unable to play.

In a surprisingly candid interview with ESPN Los Angeles, McVay certainly did not sound optimistic that Nacua would play in Week 3. Nacua has already missed one practice this week and there’s been no indication that he will get back on the field over the next two days. Davante Adams racked up 195 yards and two scores with Nacua out in Week 2. It will be hard not to rank him as a WR1 once Nacua is ruled out. Terrance Ferguson operated as the team’s No. 2 receiver last week and will be in the TE1 mix without Nacua.

Sean McVay was unsure if Nacua would be able to play in Week 3 when asked about it on Tuesday. A DNP today suggests Nacua will need at least one more week of rest before returning to the lineup. Terrance Ferguson finished second on the Rams in targets last week with nine. He caught six passes for 54 yards and a score. No receiver outside of Davante Adams was targeted more than two times. Adams was utterly dominant, turning his 10 targets into 195 yards and two scores. Those are the only two major beneficiaries of Nacua’s likely absence.