LOS ANGELES — Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is questionable to play against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday after suffering a calf injury in practice Thursday, head coach Sean McVay said Friday.
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Nacua did not practice on Friday. The wide receiver underwent imaging on Thursday and McVay characterized the injury as “minor.”
“I don’t think he knows exactly when it occurred,” McVay said. “Felt it where it wasn’t able to have some of the power and forward explosion. And he just kind of noticed it, but I don’t think he was aware of any sort of specific play that led to it.”
The expectation is that the Rams (2-4) will let Nacua test his calf on the field before a decision is made on whether or not he plays against the Raiders (3-3).
Should Nacua be ruled out, it would put the Rams in a precarious position at wide receiver. Davante Adams was placed on injured reserve this week after rupturing the semitendinosus in his left hamstring in the Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Nacua and Adams have accounted for 67 of the 80 receptions and 101 of the 125 targets from Rams receivers this season. So the offense could have to rely on several receivers – Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell – who they haven’t asked much of in the passing game this fall.
“It’s our job to figure out what are some of the spots that we can put them in that accentuate their skill sets,” McVay said. “It’s a great opportunity for other guys to step up if that’s the situation that we’re dealing with.”
McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford both emphasized that no one can replace a player like Adams or Nacua on their own. It has to be a group effort, every man doing a little bit more to shoulder the load.
But of the three, Mumpfield has been the most involved in the offense to date. But four of the second-year player’s eight catches came in the Week 3 loss to the Denver Broncos.
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Hearing McVay and offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase explain it, his spikes in production have been a matter of when he’s been more heavily featured in a game plan.
“What I do appreciate is he’s made the most of his opportunities,” McVay said. “There’s been less chances to be able to contribute. Did some good things, I thought, the other day. He’s one of those guys that when he’s been counted on, he’s delivered. Mature for a younger player, really curious, has a great humility about himself. If he’s a guy that you’re asking to step up, you have confidence in him.”
And Mumpfield understands the opportunity he has in front of him, even if it’s not how he would want it to come about, given the mentorship Adams has provided him.
“Just to go out there and dominate every day of practice and be the best version of myself,” Mumpfield said. “Be me. My best is good enough. Don’t try to do nothing out of my body. Davante is Davante, Puka is Puka, Tutu is Tutu and Konata is Konata. So just take it every day, step by step, and put my best foot forward.”
The Rams could also find themselves relying more heavily on their tight end room, a group that has been asked to do a lot of heavy lifting already this season with Terrance Ferguson on injured reserve.
“You talk about bumps and bruises, I feel like they’re hanging on by a thread at times. Then they find a way to get out there that following Sunday,” Scheelhaase said. “Those guys lay it all out on the line on Sunday. I have a lot of appreciation for them, how they’ve responded and how they’ve handled things.”
INJURY REPORT
Cornerback Trent McDuffie (groin) did not practice on Friday and is listed as questionable against the Raiders. He did not practice all week.
Linebacker Nate Landman (concussion) was ruled out for Sunday. The Rams will call up veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks from the practice squad in his absence, McVay said.
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