Despite injury, Puka Nacua expected to suit up in Week 1 vs Lions

The LA Rams have certainly been testing the depth of the Rams roster throughout training camp up to their first preseason game. As it now stands, the Rams have already had to deal with injuries to one tight end, two defensive backs, five offensive linemen, and now their star wide receiver. To compensate, the team signed a free agent tight end in the offseason, a defensive back in the first week of training camp, and just added three offensive linemen.

Now the question is, what will the team do to compensate for the loss of Puka Nacua to an untimely injury at the team's first joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers?

Before we speculate about that, let's get to the true reason for this article. Despite the proliferation of injuries to Rams players currently, only two players have been confirmed as impacted for the regular season. The ACL injury to rotational defensive back Derion Kendrick has shut him down for the 2024 NFL season. In his place, the team has signed veteran defensive back Jerry Jacobs.

The only other confirmed injury that will impact the 2024 NFL season is the ACL injury to TE Tyler Higbee. The team signed veteran TE Colby Parkinson to the roster in the offseason to compensate for Higbee's absence. So where does that leave the team in regards to WR Puka Nacua?

Rams HC Sean McVay on WR Puka Nacua’s knee injury: “It’s just going to be week-to-week with him. Nothing serious [or] nothing structurally. He’ll be in good shape. He’ll recover and we’ll be ready to go. No threat of anything for Detroit.” pic.twitter.com/AVpQsXYGaH
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 7, 2024

As stated above, he is definitely expected to be ready for Week 1 to face the Detroit Lions:

Exhale, Rams fans. Puka Nacua is expected to be READY for Week 1! 😮‍💨@RamsNFL Senior Staff Writer @StuJRams joined @ScottKaplan & @DMarcoFarr1 to preview the wide receiver room ahead of preseason action pic.twitter.com/5IbbVs2q2I
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) August 7, 2024

While the fact that any Rams players are injured this early into football preseason, this is good news on its own merits. It also adds an unexpected silver lining to the Rams task off assessing roster depth. Let me explain:

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