Puka Nacua sat out Week 2 with a hip injury, but the Los Angeles Rams still stomped the New York Giants 28-6, leaving everyone wondering if their star receiver is even needed. Rams head coach Sean McVay offered an update that’s got the league talking: Nacua doesn’t have a hernia, but the team is playing it incredibly cautious with his return. It makes you think, just how much does a guy who put up 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns last season really mean to this squad right now?
Nacua’s Lingering Doubts and a Coach’s Caution
This whole Nacua situation popped up fast. He landed on the injury report last Friday with a hip issue, and ahead of Monday’s game, McVay admitted Nacua had “a little bit of soreness” in his groin and “didn’t feel totally like himself” in practice. McVay’s quote, “Usually time is the best thing that allows that thing to heal,” tells you everything. They’re not rushing this, even if it means Nacua’s return for Week 3 against the Broncos isn’t a sure thing. Remember, this is the guy who earned First Team All-Pro honors and finished third in NFL Offensive Player of the Year voting with a monstrous 129 receptions last season. He even managed five catches for 74 yards in their season-opening loss to the 49ers in Melbourne before this injury flared up.
Rams Offense Proves It Can Thrive Without Its Star
Here’s the kicker: The Rams’ offense, which frankly looked rough in that opener against San Francisco, absolutely exploded against the Giants without Nacua. Talk about making a statement! Davante Adams stepped up huge, hauling in eight receptions for a ridiculous 195 yards and two touchdowns. And reigning MVP Matthew Stafford? He looked like his old self, carving up the Giants’ defense for 327 passing yards and four scores. That kind of performance is a huge boost, not just for the team’s confidence, but it definitely changes the narrative around Nacua’s immediate necessity.
So, what’s next for the Rams? McVay told reporters on Tuesday he’s “hopeful” Nacua will be on the field in Week 3, but he wouldn’t say with certainty. They’re heading into a much tougher matchup against the Denver Broncos’ defense this Sunday. While Denver presents a far greater challenge than the Giants, the Rams showed they can absolutely get their offense rolling even without their WR1. If they can come anywhere close to matching Monday’s success, they should walk away with a win, regardless of whether Nacua is out there or not.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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