Rams coach Sean McVay is hopeful star wide receiver Puka Nacua will be available to play against Denver, but isn't sure if that will happen.
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua makes a catch in front of 49ers defensive back Deommodore Lenoir on Sept. 11 in Australia.
(Morgan Hancock / Getty Images)
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The Rams aim to ride the momentum gained from Monday night’s victory over the New York Giants into Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos in Denver.
But it remains to be seen whether star receiver Puka Nacua will be available.
Nacua sat out against the Giants because of groin soreness.
“I’m not sure what his status is as far as this next coming week,” coach Sean McVay said Tuesday during a video conference with reporters. “I’m hopeful that he’ll play. ... If he’s ready to go, great. If not, then we’ll continue to roll.”
With Nacua out, veteran Davante Adams stepped up and caught eight passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
Nacua’s situation came to light late last week and McVay said he was questionable to play against the Giants. Receiver Jordan Whittington’s status also was in doubt because of a quadriceps injury that made him inactive against the Giants.
So the Rams moved forward with preparation.
“You have to redirect your whole kind of plans, and you almost have to operate where it’s like, ‘All right, if he plays it’s a bonus but we can’t count on him playing even though we were hopeful that there might be a chance,” McVay said of Nacua. “It really just boiled down to ... when you have soft tissue injuries with guys like that, that are skill players, you’re going to err on the side of caution.”
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Gary Klein covers the Los Angeles Rams for the Los Angeles Times. Before that, he covered USC’s football program and athletic department. He began working for The Times in the San Fernando Valley edition and has reported on high school, college and pro sports. He grew up in Southern California and graduated from Cal State Northridge.