The Los Angeles Rams climbed above .500 with a hard-fought 20-13 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday, yet the win carried an immediate cost.
All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua injured his right knee on the team’s final offensive snap and is scheduled for an MRI on Monday, according to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Team officials do not believe he suffered a torn ACL, offering an early measure of relief after he absorbed a hard hit with under two minutes remaining, briefly stayed down, then walked off the field under his own power.
That modest optimism is tempered by a more specific concern from former NFL team physician David Chao, who reviewed the available video.
“Based on video, I agree that an ACL tear is unlikely for Puka Nacua,” Chao posted on X. “My concern is a possible aggravation of the PCL injury in the same knee that sidelined him for five games in 2024. The MRI will determine the extent.”
Chao elaborated on the mechanics of the play, noting that Nacua was struck on the right knee during what appeared to be a jet-sweep-type action and hyperextended the joint.
He anticipates a contusion and hyperextension-type injury but emphasized that the greater risk is further damage to the posterior cruciate ligament previously compromised in 2024.
Video review, he added, is consistent with the early reporting that the ACL appears intact.
Nacua’s history with the PCL is well documented.
The initial injury occurred during a joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers in August 2024; it was then aggravated in the season opener against the Detroit Lions, landing him on injured reserve for five games.
A similar aggravation now would threaten another multi-week absence.
The timing is especially unwelcome. Nacua had just delivered another dominant performance—14 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown—before the late hit.
The Rams are already without Davante Adams, who remains on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Nacua himself has already missed two games this season and has appeared on the injury report multiple times. He is also still playing on his rookie contract, which adds another layer of uncertainty for both player and club.
A Week 11 bye offers a modest cushion if the damage proves minor, potentially buying extra recovery time before the stretch run. Monday’s imaging will clarify the picture.
Should Chao’s concern prove accurate and the MRI confirm another PCL aggravation, Los Angeles could once again be without its primary offensive weapon for a significant stretch as it tries to solidify a playoff position.
