Puka Nacua status TBD, but Rams avoided worst with Terrance Ferguson's injury

A 20-13 win over the Commanders soured for Los Angeles Rams fans when they learned after the game that star receiver Puka Nacua injured his knee running the ball on LA's final offensive play. It didn't seem like anything happened at the time, but Nacua was later spotted limping off the field (in a leg brace) and NFL insiders Mike Garafolo and Ian Rappoport reported the injury soon after. Thankfully, the initial word is that Nacua may have avoided an ACL tear.

He'll have an MRI today, but for now, Rams fans are in limbo. What we do have is an update on tight end Terrance Ferguson. He was supposed to return against the Commanders, but after making his way back from an ankle injury, the emerging sophomore pulled his hamstring in Friday's practice and was ruled out for the game. 

Head coach Sean McVay sounded undeniably disappointed for his young star, but he did leave plenty of room for the possibility that Ferguson will return before his three-week practice window is up and he would revert to injured reserve for the rest of the season.

"You can't make it up, can you? He was running just a standard out cut, felt his hamstring pull. Probably be another couple weeks for him," McVay said after Sunday's game. "The biggest thing I'll say is that we'll take it a week at a time with him. But we're hoping to avoid where you're not activating him when that 21-day clock expires, because you don't want to lose him for the whole season."

Rams' Terrance Ferguson update preserves hope for now

Is that great news? No. Is it a worst-case scenario, where Ferguson suffered a long-term injury that leaves no hope of his return? Also no. In contrast, Davante Adams' hamstring injury in Week 6 was quickly diagnosed as requiring surgery and a 6-to-10-week recovery timeline. Hopefully Ferguson's is just a tweak. 

The Rams need him, obviously. "He was going to be a big part of the plan today," McVay said. Fellow tight ends Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, and Davis Allen didn't do much. No one else did, either, aside from Nacua. Integrating another target like Ferguson was sorely needed already, and now Nacua is hurt. It's highly unlikely that Adams is back before December. 

While we'll have a clearer idea of Nacua's status by the end of the day, the confirmation that Ferguson isn't toast himself is something to hold onto for this injury-ravaged roster. Hamstring injuries can fall within a wide range of seriousness. The silence after the initial word on Ferguson was an uncomfortable feeling. 

Of course, it would be better to hear that his absence on Sunday was only precautionary, and that he should rebound without issue in Week 10 against the Cardinals. That's generally not how these things work. No news to Rams fans there.

Clapping for the avoidance of a worst-case scenario isn't an exciting business, but it's where this team is at with all the injuries thus far. On the other hand, the best-case outcome is that Nacua avoided anything serious and will be back after the Week 11 bye, with something similar for Ferguson. In the meantime, the Rams would be wise to add a receiver before the November 10 trade deadline.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow