Receiver Puka Nacua won’t be in pads for at least another four games since the Rams placed him on the injured reserve list. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
It’s only one game, but the rash of injuries suffered by Rams players in their season-opening loss at Detroit harks back to 2022, when the defending Super Bowl-champion Rams were ravaged by injuries that contributed to the worst Super Bowl hangover in NFL history.
On Wednesday, the Rams placed receiver Puka Nacua (knee sprain) and offensive linemen Steve Avila (medial collateral ligament sprain) and Joe Noteboom (lateral ankle sprain) on injured reserve. They also signed three offensive linemen: veterans Ty Nsekhe and Geron Christian Sr. and rookie Dylan McMahon, a sixth-round pick who was on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad. Veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon also was signed to the practice squad.
Before practice, coach Sean McVay was asked: Does it feel like 2022?
“I don’t remember that year,” McVay joked. “What happened?”
The Rams got routed by the Buffalo Bills in the opener and had a 2-3 record through five games. As injuries mounted, they finished the season 5-12.
Read more: Rams-Lions takeaways: Puka Nacua, offensive linemen injuries a major concern
Nacua, Avila and Noteboom must sit out games against the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. The Rams then will have the benefit of an off week.
McVay cautioned, however, that they “each have unique injuries that as of right now” could keep them out longer.
“So we’ll see,” McVay said. “What I think we want to be careful to do — and I’ve kind of learned this just through experience — let’s not place expectations on when they’re going to come back because these guys are so conscientious, let’s allow them to be ready to go whenever their body says and the doctors do say.”
Quarterback Matthew Stafford also was asked if the number of early injuries suffered by teammates felt like…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-place-puka-nacua-two-230443068.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-09-11 23:04:43
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