The Los Angeles Rams have placed receiver Puka Nacua, guard Steve Avila, and offensive tackle Joe Noteboom on injured reserve as of Wednesday. Coach Sean McVay acknowledged that these players might be out for more than four games.
Even though the Rams have a bye week, giving the players extra time to recover into mid-October, McVay is uncertain about when the team will be fully healthy again due to a series of significant injuries this season.
“Each of those three guys have unique injuries that, as of right now, it could keep them out longer than that,” McVay said. “And so we’ll see. … Let’s not place expectations on when they’re going to come back, because these guys are so conscientious.
Let’s allow them to be ready to go whenever their body says, and when the doctors do say. I know they’re going to accelerate it and be ready as quickly as possible.”
When asked if this season feels similar to the injury-plagued season of 2022 when the Rams struggled to defend their Super Bowl title, McVay responded sarcastically, “I don’t remember that year.”
Nacua re-injured a sprained ligament in his right knee during the first half of the Rams’ 26-20 overtime loss to Detroit last weekend.
Despite the numerous injuries, the Rams remained competitive and even scored 17 points in a row before the Lions took control.
McVay said he had to completely change his offensive game plan and worked with Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp on new strategies to move the ball without their starting offensive line — and it nearly worked.
“The game was such an outlier for how we had to play, how we had to adjust,” McVay said. “I’ve never been a part of circumstances quite like that, but that’s also probably as proud as I’ve been of a group’s ability to adjust. The guys seamlessly handled that.”
Nacua’s extended absence creates another major challenge for the Rams, who are already dealing with a makeshift offensive line. Avila hurt a ligament in his knee during the first half in Detroit, while Noteboom injured his ankle.
The Rams were already without both of their starting offensive tackles: Left tackle Alaric Jackson is suspended for another week, and right tackle Rob Havenstein is trying to return after missing the first game with an ongoing ankle injury. Havenstein was also limited in practice on Wednesday.
Additionally, right guard Kevin Dotson missed practice to rest his sprained ankle, but the Rams are hopeful he will play on Sunday when they go to Arizona, aiming to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2011.
To address their roster needs, the Rams have added new players, including offensive lineman Dylan McMahon from the Philadelphia practice squad and veteran offensive lineman Geron Christian.
They also re-signed two former Rams to the practice squad: cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe.
Cornerback Cobie Durant missed Wednesday’s practice due to a toe injury. With starting cornerback Darious Williams on injured reserve, the Rams brought back Witherspoon, an experienced NFL player who had three interceptions and started all 17 games for the Rams last season.
McMahon is a rookie who was picked in the sixth round by the Eagles last year, and McVay said the Rams had been interested in him throughout the year.
Christian has played in 58 games over the last six seasons with teams like Washington, Houston, Kansas City, and Cleveland. He started nine games at left tackle for the Browns last season and was with the Titans for training camp and preseason before being released.
Nsekhe started eight games for the Rams in the challenging 2022 season and spent last year with Cleveland. He’s a veteran tackle who, at 39, is still active.
He played for the St. Louis Rams in 2012 and was also with McVay when he was the offensive coordinator for Washington in 2015 and 2016. “I thought he played really well in ‘22,” McVay said. “He’s timeless. He’s still doing his thing.”
