Puka Nacua continues to make his way back from the knee injury that has defined his second NFL season. The Rams wide receiver made a big step toward a return Tuesday.
The Rams have Nacua back at practice, with the team announcing he has been designated for return. The rookie-year standout now has 21 days to be activated. Of course, this comes as the Rams look into trading Cooper Kupp. But Nacua, who is signed through 2026, remains a key part of the team’s future.
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After seeing Nacua’s breakout begin while Kupp was on the mend with a hamstring injury, the Rams have been without both their top guns in the passing game for most of this slate. Nacua aggravated a knee injury sustained during training camp. He made it back for Week 1 but went down in that Lions matchup with a PCL sprain. A recent report (from ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler) indicated the Rams were targeting November for a Nacua return. This would point to a lengthier ramp-up period.
The Rams continue their season Thursday against the Vikings; they are unlikely to have Nacua available, and Kupp’s status will be a key storyline to monitor ahead of that contest. Los Angeles rebuffed Kupp trade inquiries last season, but at 2-4 and having seen Kupp battle injury issues since signing his second extension, the team is gauging the market for the former All-Pro. A trade coming to fruition would cut short the Kupp-Nacua partnership, which showed promise last season.
A fifth-round gem, Nacua set a rookie record with 1,486 receiving yards while adding six touchdowns during a 105-catch season. The BYU product played in every Rams game last season, displaying a physical style that paired well with Kupp’s finesse game in the slot. Nacua, 23, will be expected to reprise his role as a top Matthew Stafford target. There will be no debating Nacua’s place in the Rams’ WR hierarchy if they move on from Kupp before the November 5 deadline.
Nacua and Kupp played 12 games together last season. None of the contests involved both receivers clearing 100 yards, but the two combined for eight 100-yard efforts during their time together. It does not seem like the Rams are committed to moving Kupp, but if they receive a strong enough offer, the team will be looking for a receiver to complement Nacua. The latter’s health the rest of the way stands to shape how the Rams approach this position in the offseason as well.