Fans knew Rams needed another WR before Puka Nacua's late injury vs. Commanders

The Los Angeles Rams can't play games any longer: they need another receiver.

They might already be down Puka Nacua after he injured his knee running the ball on the Rams' last play of the game. They will know more after he undergoes an MRI, but it doesn't sound great. The good news is that the team does not believe it's an ACL injury, per NFL insider Mike Garafolo.

On the one hand, spamming passes to Nacua was working, kind of. He led the way against the Commanders with 14 grabs for 150 yards and one immaculate touchdown. The Rams have mustered just enough of a passing offense to notch a three-game win streak.

On the other hand, it was painful to watch the dearth of options at Matthew Stafford's disposal. Aside from Nacua, no one had more than 20 receiving yards. In all, his teammates caught 12 passes for 78. In every game since Davante Adams hit injured reserve, Nacua has been targeted at least 10 times, but he's only averaging nine yards per catch. 

The Rams haven't made much of a stir in the trade market, but with the deadline looming on November 10, Nacua's status in question, and Adams nowhere near a return, they'd be remiss not to comb through the full scope of their options. The talent in the building clearly isn't enough.

Rams can't keep pretending they have the pieces

Stafford's first-half interception captured it perfectly. With no one to throw to and passes being dropped like hot coals, he forced the ball into double coverage targeting Nacua on the sideline for an easy pick. It was a poor decision to let that one go, but his frustration is understandable. The offense is predictable. It's not going to work in the long term.

In the trade market, names within a realistic price range for the Rams may not be among the most enticing available. Armed with only four draft picks next season, and without a first-rounder until 2028, can they afford to meet the asking price for the Jaguars' Brian Thomas Jr. or the Colts' Michael Downs?

Well, they may have to cough it up if Nacua will miss more than a game or two and LA is still serious about contending this season. Obviously, his status shifts the calculus dramatically. What they need is a producer or at least someone with intriguing upside. The calculation is whether a new receiver can move the needle enough to make burning assets worthwhile.

Either way, current options aren't cutting it. In theory, it would be simple enough to target Tutu Atwell more. Well, he did get four targets on Sunday but caught only one and committed some very odd drops. That wasn't the follow-up performance Rams fans hoped for after Atwell finally made a dent in the box score against the Chargers.

The tight ends haven't contributed enough to make a Nacua-centric (better said, Nacua-exclusive) gameplan viable. Tyler Higbee had a dismal day, hauling in one of five passes with some awful drops of his own. He hasn't done much lately. Colby Parkinson is banged up and Terrance Ferguson has a new hamstring injury. Rookies Max Klare and CJ Daniels remain uninvolved.

Now there's Nacua's knee injury to consider

Clearly help is needed. Nacua has been tough as nails, but he hasn't been explosive like Rams fans are used to. That's likely a result of playing through various injuries, but it could also be a product of defenses double-and triple-covering him without Adams to look out for. 

For all his volume production, in his last three games Nacua hasn't made a grab over 21 yards. He is subject to hit after hit as he turns dumpoffs into first downs after the catch. As good as Nacua is, it was never going to be sustainable, especially considering his health issues before and during the season. Now he may be facing a serious injury.

As for Adams, even if he comes back toward the shorter end of his 6-10-week timeline, it won't be until sometime in December. If he needs all of it, the Rams will be without him until the season is nearly over.

Adding a receiver won't solve the problem entirely, but it can help the Rams get by. The severity of Nacua's injury will help LA decide one way or the other - go big, go home, or meet halfway if if he'll be back before too long.

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