Rams will need an answer that isn't Davante Adams if Puka Nacua is out vs Broncos

According to head coach Sean McVay, Puka Nacua is "not making great progress" as far as returning from the groin injury that kept him out of Monday's game against the Giants. Nacua was a DNP in Wednesday's practice, and at this point, it seems more likely than not that he will miss the Rams' Sunday night affair in Denver. 

In that case, the offense will need to find a recipe for success that doesn't rely on Davante Adams accounting for nearly 200 yards of offense. Unlike the Giants' ill-equipped secondary, the Broncos boast one of the best corners in the league in All-Pro Patrick Surtain II. 

Fat chance they're going to leave Adams free to tear up the turf. Which was a baffling decision on the Giants' part, anyway. 

Potentially without Nacua, and with Denver gameplanning specifically to lock down Matthew Stafford's other favorite option, the Rams will need someone else to step up. Who?

Rams best off exploring multiple options if Nacua can't go

Tight end Terrance Ferguson is the obvious first answer, but the Broncos will have him in mind as well coming off his own career day. Matthew Stafford probably won't get away with funneling 19 of 31 targets to Adams and Ferguson this time, at least not with the same efficiency.

Tutu Atwell time? Actually, that might not be such a bad idea. Atwell caught one pass for 19 yards last time out, after being listed inactive in Week 1. He knows McVay's system, and now he's had an extra week to find a groove with Stafford and his fellow receivers in practice.

Atwell also has a history of stepping with the Rams' top options sidelined. He enjoyed one of the most productive stretches of his career filling the void when Cooper Kupp, and then Nacua, too, were bit by the injury bug in 2024. In a four-game period missing both Kupp and Nacua, Atwell recorded 20 catches for 284 yards. 

Atwell is one option. If the Broncos are double-covering Adams, Stafford won't be loath to take one-on-one shots with Atwell if his speedy receiver gets a step. 

Another, perhaps more realistic option is that the Rams simply shovel more targets to tight ends. Although Ferguson went off in Week 2, veterans Colby Parkinson and Tyler Higbee did little. Parkinson left the game with a knee injury, so he may be off the table, but McVay still has Davis Allen and rookie Max Klare. 

Will young receivers like Konata Mumpfield, or Jordan Whittington if can work through his quad injury in time to play, be more involved? Rookie CJ Daniels remained inactive in Week 2 despite the absence of both Nacua and Whittington. Those three have combined for two catches and 20 yards thus far. Frankly, it doesn't seem like the Rams plan to involve any of them much early in the season. 

Actually, this might be McVay's secret weapon: using Kyren Williams as a designed route-runner out of the backfield. He already has five catches for 36 yards and a touchdown, including a 10-yard score against the Giants. 

If none of those options sound all that, well, exciting, that's kind of where the Rams are at right now with Nacua seemingly trending toward another absence. Doubting Adams is a dangerous game; at the same time, the Broncos aren't about to sign up for the gashing the Giants invited.

It might simply be a matter of coming in with a flexible pass-game game plan, throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow