Puka Nacua's injury might be the blessing Rams offense desperately needs

There's no world in which the Los Angeles Rams are a better team without star wide receiver Puka Nacua in the lineup.

And yet that's the reality head coach Sean McVay and Co. are facing in the wake of the receiver's scary ankle injury suffered in the Week 6 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. While Nacua was able to return to action in that game, the likelihood of him missing LA's Week 7 showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars seems to be increasing by the day, especially with him missing Wednesday's practice.

Ideally, Nacua is available for the high-profile showdown in London, England.

However, even if he isn't, there might still be a benefit from which Los Angeles can take away.

Rams must diversify their offense if Puka Nacua misses Jaguars game

There's no shortage of cliches that might apply here -- "putting too many eggs in one basket" or "not diversifying an investment portfolio" -- that describe the Rams' use of Nacua for the first six weeks.

Simply put, to date, McVay's offense has funneled through Nacua's services, which helps explain why the wide receiver leads all pass catchers with not only 54 receptions but also 65 targets. No doubt, those efforts have also fed quarterback Matthew Stafford's NFL-best 1,684 pass yards.

But, considering Nacua's 57 overall touches are more than double those of LA's No. 2 wide receiver, All-Pro Davante Adams (26), and wholly overshadow the combined touches from all four tight ends on McVay's roster to date (23), it's fair to state the Rams offense has become a bit too overly reliant on Nacua's presence.

Adams, in particular, was brought last offseason in to give Stafford and McVay added weaponry and to take pressure off Nacua from having to be the linchpin holding the offense together.

Should the Rams opt to hold Nacua back against the Jags -- and it might not be a bad idea with a bye the following week -- it'd afford Stafford the opportunity to spread out the touches and to diversify the offensive game plan.