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?

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

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:

Training Camp to Preseason

If training camp contributes anything to a team's preparedness for the upcoming season, it's this: Veterans use the time to re-synch with teammates while learning new playbook wrinkles. After all, veterans are counted on to return to training camp in football shape, so it's merely a matter of reacclimating to football after time away from the game.

For new veterans, the process may be complicated due to new surroundings, but the objective is essentially the same. Resynchronization with players making new plays for new coaches. There is the added twist of coaches on staff familiarizing themselves with new players.

But it becomes a bit more complex for rookies. Now we have the additional steps of players entering the NFL for the first time. That means everything, from the introductions to the regimen of OTAs, mini-camps, training camps, preseason, and if fortunate enough, regular season, is all brand new.

Right now, those players under the top-30 on the roster continue to jockey for position. That can be very competitive, as inevitably the team will run out of roster slots long before the team runs out of worthy players. While some NFL analysts continue to focus on the Rams receiver room as only extending to Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and perhaps even Demarcus Robinson, this team has more than those three players as shoe-ins for the 53-man roster right now.

I have and do view this team's WR room a bit differently. While we expect the lion's share of offensive snaps and targets to focus on Kupp and Nacua, I see a larger role for Robinson right out of the gates. His contribution did not begin in 2023 until half the season was gone. I do not see the team making a similar mistake this year. And if the Rams offensive line can congeal with any consistency and continuity, I can see the team making use of Tutu Atwell's blazing speed to keep the back end of defenses honest this season.

So who will step up in Nacua's absence?

While I had compiled a list of candidates who were likely to step up in Nacua's absence, I want to clarify why I focused exclusively on Jordan Whittington, Tyler Johnson, and Xavier Smith. You see, in my opinion, the 2024 roles for Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua (when he returns to health), Demarcus Robinson, and Tutu Atwell are already well-established for the upcoming season.

While the workload may be redistributed to absorb additional offensive snaps as player injuries occur, I don't consider any of those four receivers as 'stepping up,' as much as 'rounding out,' their already projected roles. While rookie WR Jordan Whittington is a lock to make the 53-man roster, his role in this offense is undefined. So as he carves out his niche for 2024, He will be stepping up as a player who attracts offensive snaps. And that could be a larger than expected role this season.

Whittington, much like Puka Nacua in 2023, is turning heads with his versatility and efficiency in the Rams offense. Unlike many rookie receivers who show up productively only when the ball is thrown their way, Whittington contributes as much to this offense whether the football is or is not thrown to him.

Is this Deja Vu all over again?

The Rams recently have feasted on late round draft picks stepping up in a huge way as opportunity knocks. in 2023, 2022 NFL Draft Round 5 selected RB Kyren Williams stepped up to look like a Round 1 prospect. And he only need 12 games in 2023 to appear among the NFL's Top-3 running backs.

So too did rookie Puka Nacua, a 2023 NFL Draft Round 5 selected WR, break the NFL's All-Time Rookie Receiving Records last season.

Could 2024 NFL Draft Round 6 selected rookie wide receiver Jordan Whittington make it the Trifecta for the Rams? Some already think so.

Of course, both veteran WRs Tyler Johnson and Xavier Smith continue to be in the race for an increased role in this offense. And there is a lot of football to play before the Rams open on the road to face the Detroit Lions in Week 1. That is a month away.

But rest assured that Puka Nacua will suit up for that one. And that is a huge relief.

Thanks for reading.