NFL Rumors: Puka Nacua Could Miss More Games Than Initial Timeline for Knee Injury

The Los Angeles Rams might be without wide receiver Puka Nacua for five to seven weeks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Nacua suffered a PCL sprain in the Rams' 26-20 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 1. The team placed him on injured reserve as a result, and head coach Sean McVay acknowledged he could miss more than the four games that's required for an IR designation.

The 23-year-old had a breakout rookie campaign, going from the fifth round of the NFL draft to the Pro Bowl. He caught 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns to help carry the passing game while Cooper Kupp worked his way back from a hamstring injury.

Some Rams fans will have expected the worst after Nacua was carted back to the locker room after being evaluated on the sideline. A PCL sprain is better than some of the alternatives.

The uncertain nature of Nacua's recovery timeline is obviously a concern, as is the fact the injury is an aggravation of something that kept him out for a few weeks in the preseason.

"The Rams want to make sure they're careful with Nacua and not rush him back," Schefter wrote. "The team wants to do whatever is needed to ensure there are no more setbacks to the injury that Nacua initially suffered early in training camp."

Kupp had 14 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Lions loss. Los Angeles knows it can count on the 2021 All-Pro until Nacua returns. But it's up to either Demarcus Robinson or Tyler Johnson to assume a larger role to ensure the offense doesn't regress too much.