With Puka Nacua going on IR the Los Angeles Rams added Brennan Presley and Tyler Scott. This is a bit of a surprise (maybe) as Sean McVay reported Nacua would avoid IR, but then went back on his own statement when it was revealed that Nacua would be going on IR to miss “extended time”.
The Rams will find out who steps-up in Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals. Will anyone step-up? There is an expectation that rookie CJ Daniels could get some run, and that’s exciting for the young man, but I’ll believe
it when I see it.
The Rams need to earn a win on Sunday to get to 6-4 before their bye, and they likely need to get healthy to hope to beat the Green Bay Packers after their bye week. One thing at a time, starting with Arizona.
LA Rams Sign Two Wide Receivers Amid Major Puka Nacua News (sports.yahoo)
“Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams have provided further clarity on Puka Nacua. Their latest roster moves only add further details on a noteworthy day.
“LA Rams Roster Moves,” the team posted on X on November 12, listing their transactions.
- Reserve/Injured WR Puka Nacua
- Signed to Active Roster from Practice Squad WR Brennan Presley
- Signed to Practice Squad WR Tyler Scott
“We’re not going to put him on IR, just because of some semantics with the roster and things like that,” McVay told reporters on November 11. “But he still is going to be out for an extende period of time. It wasn’t any sort of new information.”
‘Really encouraged by his development’: Rams coaches and teammates looking forward to CJ Daniels Jr. getting more opportunities in Week 10 (rams.com)
“It’s been good for me,” Daniels said of these last nine weeks. “Really just staying the course, just learning the playbook, each and every (receiver) position, and battling against the defense each and every day has definitely prepared me each and every week for whenever my number is called.”
That time could be this week.
With wide receiver Puka Nacua expected to miss at least a month with MCL and PCL sprains and turf toe, and veteran Davante Adams still on Injured Reserve, and Jordan Whittington now on IR, Daniels’ number is expected to be called this Sunday against the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.
“He’s going to get that,” McVay said Monday, when asked what Daniels needs to show to get time on the field. “He’s done a great job. I don’t know that I could really say any areas of improvement until he gets truly his opportunity. With the way that he’s worked consistently, the way that he shows up day in and day out. I think if you asked a lot of our DBs (defensive backs) about him, they give you a bunch of positive feedback because of the looks, the challenges. He has a lot of maturity for a young guy, like I’ve talked to you guys about. He is a guy that, no question about it, will get an opportunity to play more snaps moving forward.”
Sportsbook Insiders: How the Puka Nacua Injury Impacts the Rams’ Playoff Odds; NFC Playoff Picture (si.com)
“After holding out hope that the Rams would meet preseason expectations some sportsbooks have begun to pull back with Nacua set to miss the next few weeks.
“It’s a pretty significant injury coupled with Adams’ injury as well; on top of that, they had a slow start to the season,” Christian Cipollini, Senior Trading Manager at BetMGM, told Sports Illustrated. “This is the first week where that view is really switching to they could very much miss the playoffs. They have a difficult schedule ahead and some real significant injuries. The only thing keeping them from a big fall right now is there is still potential to get those key guys back. If they can somehow weather the storm and get in, they could be decently healthy by the playoffs.”
How long is Rams WR Puka Nacua out after being put on IR? (ramswire)
“After Puka Nacua went down with a knee injury and turf toe on Sunday, Sean McVay said the Los Angeles Rams would probably place him on injured reserve. Two days later, McVay pivoted and said the Rams weren’t going to put him on IR due to roster semantics.
One day after that, the Rams announced that Nacua was placed on IR, changing their minds for the second time. Regardless, Nacua was always expected to miss at least a month, but there’s a slight difference between putting him on IR and leaving him on the active roster because of the bye week.
Players who are put on IR must miss a minimum of four games, not four weeks. That means Nacua will be on IR for Weeks 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, because Week 11 is a bye. So when is he eligible to return?“
Rams Restructure Kyren Williams, Kamren Curl Deals to Create About $3 Million in Cap Space (rg.org)
“The Los Angeles Rams cleared about $3 million in cap space by restructuring the contracts of running back Kyren Williams and safety Kamren Curl, moves first reported by ESPN’s Field Yates and detailed by Spotrac.
Spotrac reported that the Rams converted $2 million of Williams’ salary into a signing bonus and added two void years, creating $1.7 million in 2026 cap space. They did the same with $1.7 million of Curl’s salary, also adding two void years, to create $1.3 million in space.“
Cardinals – Rams Week 10 injury reports (sports.yahoo)
“The Arizona Cardinals are at the halfway point of the season. They need a win very badly. Where does the team head from here? They are facing the Los Angeles Rams once again. In the first match, Arizona’s offense dominated the LA defense, but could not score touchdowns and instead came away with six Chad Ryland field goals.
Remember?
This time around, there are plenty of changes for the Cardinals. The offense will sport its third starting quarterback of the year in rookie Carson Beck. Center Hjalte Froholdt is in concussion protocol; WR Michael Wilson was added to IR, as was QB Gardner Minshew; and no more Jeremiyah Love, Paris Johnson, or Will Johnson, for that matter.
Thursday’s injury reports after both practices for both clubs this week.“
LA Rams injury report: 2 TE added (cardswire)
“Wide receiver Puka Nuca, who McVay said Wednesday would be out for an “extended” period of time but wouldn’t go on injured reserve because if issues with the number of players they have on the list, was placed on IR Thursday s isn’t listed below.
The full details of their Thursday injury report are below. Starters are noted with an asterisk. Players in bold have a different status than Wednesday with that day indicated by either no status (NS), did not participate (DNP) or limited (LIM).“
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. proving capable of bigger role in Rams secondary if needed after performance against former team (rams.com)
“In his return to play his former team on Sunday afternoon, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was thrust into a much larger role than he’s had all season.
“E-man (was) extremely productive,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said on Thursday. “A bunch of PBUs. I thought he was awesome in the run game, physical, tackling. He made that play on the screen.”
Forbes has played 33% of the Rams’ defensive snaps this season, and in the two games when Watson and McDuffie played every single defensive snap, he had none. Against Washington when both Watson and McDuffie were out for the first time all season, though, Forbes played every single defensive snap and recorded the second highest grade on the defense at 90.6, according to Pro Football Focus, only behind outside linebacker Myles Garrett.“
Rams vs. Cardinals prediction: Odds, expert picks, QB matchup, injury update, betting trends, and stats (nbcsports)
“Los Angeles extended its winning streak to three last Sunday with a 20-13 road victory over the Washington Commanders. The Rams’ defense has been central to the turnaround, holding the Chargers to nine points and Washington to 13 in consecutive weeks, and Los Angeles enters Sunday allowing only 20.1 points and 312.9 yards per game. The major concern is what Stafford will have around him. Star receiver Puka Nacua, the team’s leading receiver with 715 yards, is out after suffering knee and toe injuries, while Davante Adams remains on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and tight end Terrance Ferguson is also sidelined. It is up to Head Coach Sean McVay and Stafford to keep the offense functioning even with several of its most important weapons sidelined.
Arizona’s most recent outing was far less encouraging. The Cardinals followed up a thrilling and improbable 33-30 overtime win in Dallas with a 17-3 loss at Seattle. The Cardinals are now 3-6 and, remarkably, 0-3 at home, while an offense already struggling for consistency is undergoing a major change at quarterback. With Gardner Minshew placed on injured reserve, rookie Carson Beck is set to make his first appearance against the Rams, putting even more importance on running back Tyler Allgeier and tight end Trey McBride, who leads Arizona with 598 receiving yards and five touchdown catches.“
NFL Week 10 picks: Upset and score predictions, matchup breakdowns for every game (nfl.com)
“Why Brooke picked the Rams: Even with all the injuries to the Rams’ roster — Puka Nacua is the latest star to be sidelined — they are big road favorites in the desert. The major reasons for this: First, reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett returned in style last week, logging three sacks and a forced fumble in L.A.’s win. Second, facing Garrett and that formidable defensive front will be third-round rookie quarterback Carson Beck. That’s a tough ask for anyone, let alone a guy who has yet to take a regular-season snap. The shorthanded Rams are still the more talented team, and although Arizona (with new Raven Jacoby Brissett in at QB) bested Los Angeles in their first meeting back in Week 6, the Rams shouldn’t have an issue stacking their fourth straight win against Beck and Co.“
