The Los Angeles Rams took the Detroit Lions to the wire on Sunday night but dropped their regular season opener in overtime by a final score of 26-20 at Ford Field.
The Rams were missing several starters in Week 1 and unfortunately saw additional players go down to injury during the matchup.
Pro Bowl wide receiver Puka Nacua suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and initially returned for one play before exiting again and missing the rest of the game.
It appears Nacua re-aggravated the injury that forced him to miss training camp, and now Sean McVay says he will go on injured reserve and miss at least four games, per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic:
McVay clarifies, Nacua will go to IR. He will miss four games minimum.
Nacua aggravated his previous injury in a “more significant” manner. https://t.co/aCYdqkj8Lb— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) September 9, 2024
The Rams also lost starting guard Steve Avila to a knee injury and it is possible that he also winds up on IR:
Starting OL Steve Avila suffered an MCL sprain and is a candidate for IR, McVay said. OL Joe Noteboom (ankle) will be week to week, per Sean McVay. Starting RG Kevin Dotson suffered a lateral ankle sprain and is day to day. He was in a boot postgame. McVay hopeful he is ok.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) September 9, 2024
A potential MCL strain isn’t ideal as Avila will almost certainly miss a few weeks of action depending on the grade. The good news is that MCL strains typically aren’t season-ending injuries and Avila should be able to return at some point. The Rams have a bye in Week 6, so both him and Nacua can get five weeks of rest before potentially returning in Week 7.
When Avila was lost at the start of the third quarter, the Rams inserted rookie Beaux Limmer at center and moved Jonah Jackson to left guard. If Avila misses time as expected, the Rams will likely stick with this combination in the short term.
Joe Noteboom, who started at left tackle in place of the suspended Alaric Jackson, was also carted off the field with an ankle injury, and right guard Kevin Dotson hurt his ankle as well although the concern there isn’t as high.
With Jackson set to miss the Rams’ Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, A.J. Arcuri could step in at left tackle if Noteboom remains sidelined.
Rams injuries
Before the latest injuries, the Rams were already thin at offensive line due to Jackson’s suspension and Rob Havenstein missing the regular season opener due to an ankle injury.
However, head coach Sean McVay expressed hope after the team’s loss to the Lions that Havenstein could return sooner rather than later.
