The Los Angeles Rams had to shake up their roster on Monday, taking a bit of the sheen off the good news surrounding wide receiver Puka Nacua and right tackle Rob Havenstein as the team returned from its bye week.
Rams head coach Sean McVay announced the encouraging developments for Nacua and Havenstein. The latter has missed LA’s last two games.
The Rams’ injury situation took a downturn from there, though.
Puka Nacua, Rob Havenstein Returning to Practice for Rams in Week 9
GettyPuka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Nacua suffered an ankle injury against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6, and he missed the Rams’ Week 7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. With the Rams on bye in Week 8, this was the first substantial update on Nacua’s status.
“Yeah, it was good. We expect him to be ready to go, expect him to be able to practice. He’ll do some stuff. We’ll get a little bonus Monday. But it’ll be more of, kind of, just focus on fundamentals, kind of flushes, for the guys. Hopefully, they were able to get away, relax a little bit, and now we’re chomping at the bit to be better than we were the first half of the season. So, do expect him to be back on Wednesday. And expect him to play this week unless there’s setbacks,” McVay told reporters on October 27
“Same same thing with Rob.”
Havenstein has been sidelined since the Rams’ win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. The team turned to Warren McClendon in his absence.
The Rams went 2-1 after losing Havenstein, one of several remaining members of their Super Bowl team in 2021. Their only loss was a 26-23 overtime defeat at the hands of the NFC West rivals, the San Francisco 49ers.
Sean McVay Gets Honest About Puka Nacua
GettyLos Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay chats with wide receivers Davante Adams #17 and Puka Nacua #12 during practice.
McVay fielded a question about how the Rams would handle Nacua. The third-year wideout has a physical playing style that stands out, but also comes with a risk.
“I think you look at the things that are reflected, and why are we missing time if we are, and if they’re preventable. Then let’s continuously look at that, and communicate that, and be able to pick and choose our spots. When you’re going up to try to break up a pass on a 50/50 ball and your ankle comes down weird, sometimes there’s some freak things,” McVay said. “I think the important thing … is being mindful to the totality of the workload that we’re asking of him, and being cognizant of that through 17 games. And then, hopefully, you earn the right to be able to play after that.”
McVay said being “forced” to adjust the approach with a player’s health can be a “good” thing.
“We’re always trying to find that sweet spot. And it’s a positive thing, because he is such a productive player in so many phases. But we do talk about those things in regards to the things that we can control to maybe limit the exposure to some of those possible injuries,” McVay told media members.
“There are occupational hazards that exist in this game … that sometimes you’re saying, ‘Hey, could we have done anything to prevent it?’ I’m glad he went up and played DB in that situation. I’m bummed that he came down on his ankle weird. So, it’s kind of a give and take.”
Rams Place Tutu Atwell on Injured Reserve
GettyTutu Atwell #5 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts against the Tennessee Titans.
The Rams’ task of taking some of the workload off of Nacua got more difficult on Monday, with the team announcing it was placing fellow wideout Tutu Atwell on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Atwell joins outside linebacker Keir Thomas II and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon on IR.
McVay also said that Darious Williams has “almost like a strain in his shoulder and in his lat” after a “freak” occurrence in Week 7. The Rams will monitor Williams throughout the week.
McVay also said that Witherspoon is still on track to possibly come off IR in or after Week 12. He also cautioned that it was still “a little bit premature” to begin planning around the veteran’s potential return.
Still, with Nacua and Havenstein returning, McVay’s Rams are mostly getting healthier.
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