The Los Angeles Rams will be without WR1 for Week 2, but will get a boost on their defensive line.
Star wide receiver Puka Nacua has been ruled out for Monday night’s primetime matchup against the New York Giants with a hip injury, the team announced shortly before kickoff.
Aaron Donald, meanwhile, is active for the official start of his comeback.
The Rams entered Week 2 looking to bounce back from a season-opening 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Nacua entered Monday with a questionable designation due to the lingering injury. He did not practice on Friday or Saturday before the Rams’ off day on Sunday. Nacua was seen going through an individual warm-up on Monday before he was ultimately ruled out.
The two-time Pro Bowler’s absence will surely be felt by the Rams. Nacua has established himself as one of the league’s premier pass-catchers since he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 draft — logging two 1000-plus yard seasons through his first three NFL seasons. Nacua only narrowly missed the 1000-yard mark in 2024, finishing with 990 yards despite missing six games.
The 25-year-old led all players last season with his 129 receptions and 107.2 yards per game, while finishing sixth with 10 touchdowns.
In the Rams’ Week 1 loss, Nacua caught five passes on nine targets for 74 yards.
Los Angeles now readies to take on upstart New York (1-0-0) without Matthew Stafford’s top target. The Giants took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, holding Dak Prescott to 175 yards passing, two touchdowns and one interception — top pass-catchers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were limited to 44 and 28 yards receiving, respectively.
Veteran Davante Adams will likely slot over into the WR1 role for the Rams on Monday night.
Donald participated in team warmups before being declared active for his first NFL game since January 2024. The three-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year retired in March 2024, but returned to the Rams late last month.
Donald didn’t travel to Australia for the Rams’ embarrassing season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Receiver Jordan Whittington is also inactive for the Rams due to a quadriceps injury. The Rams, who frequently use three-tight-end offensive sets, will face the Giants with only four healthy wide receivers: Davante Adams, Xavier Smith, Konata Mumpfield and Tutu Atwell.
Rams safety Kam Kinchens (hamstring) also is inactive.
The Giants’ inactives included cornerback Deonte Banks (calf), who had four tackles in New York’s season-opening win over Dallas, and linebacker Micah McFadden.
Running back Najee Harris is active for his Giants debut after being a healthy scratch last week. New York signed the four-time 1,000-yard rusher last month after an injury limited him to three games with the Chargers last season.
— with files from The Associated Press