Rams' Puka Nacua Likely Headed to Injured Reserve With Knee Sprains and Turf Toe, and Sean McVay Is Second-Guessing the Final Play

By The Arena Staff

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Nov. 9, 2026 — Puka Nacua's best game of the season ended on the play Sean McVay can't stop replaying.

The Los Angeles Rams coach said Monday that Nacua sprained the MCL and PCL in his right knee and has turf toe, and that the star receiver will likely go on injured reserve, the team reported. "He's going to be out for a good amount of time," McVay said, adding that the Rams think it will be "at least a month."

Nacua was hurt on the Rams' final offensive play of Sunday's 20-13 win at Washington, a jet sweep that ended with a hard hit to his right knee, according to TheRams.com. Before that, he had been the whole passing game: 14 catches on 19 targets for a season-high 150 yards and a touchdown.

McVay took it personally.

"I'd be lying to you if I said I haven't questioned the decision making on that last play over and over in my head," he said, wondering whether another call could have picked up the first down and ended the game without Nacua "taking a violent hit to his right knee." He said it was "stuff that I feel tremendous responsibility for."

A trip to injured reserve means at least four games. With the Rams' bye in Week 11, the earliest Nacua could return is Week 15 against Dallas on Dec. 20, according to NFL.com and CBS Sports. He would miss games against Arizona, Green Bay, Kansas City and San Francisco.

The timing is rough for an offense that has leaned on him almost exclusively. Nacua has 70 catches for 715 yards and four touchdowns in seven games, and NFL.com said he drew 48% of the Rams' targets in Week 8 and 44.2% on Sunday. Davante Adams is already on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, leaving Tutu Atwell, Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington and CJ Daniels as the receivers.

It's been a stop-and-start year for Nacua, who dealt with psoas soreness in training camp and missed Weeks 2 and 3 with a hip injury, NFL.com reported. He led the league in catches (129) and receiving yards per game (107.2) last season, according to CBS Sports.

McVay also said guard Steve Avila has a hamstring strain that will keep him out "a little bit of time." The Rams are 5-4 after three straight wins.