Rams Injury Updates: Puka Nacua, Steve Avila & Joe Noteboom

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.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Nacua is set to undergo tests on Monday to determine the severity of his knee injury:

“He’s going to have tests this afternoon just to determine what is going on there in his knee,” Rapoport said. “No firm word yet on his status but obviously same knee as training camp, clearly an issue there, clearly in some pain that he was battling through. Wouldn’t be surprised if he misses some time as he figures out and tries to improve this issue.”

It was then confirmed by Adam Schefter of ESPN that Nacua re-aggravated his same issue from training camp and could miss some time:

Rams WR Puka Nacua aggravated his summer knee injury Sunday night vs. the Lions and, while he still is going through additional testing, he is expected to be considered week to week, per sources. pic.twitter.com/Ri6OsgbhCy

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 9, 2024

The Rams also lost starting guard Steve Avila to a knee injury and it is believed that he suffered an MCL sprain:

#Rams starting guard Steve Avila, who left last night’s game with a knee injury, is believed to have suffered an MCL sprain, sources say. He’ll have an MRI and further testing today to determine the full extent.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) 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.

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.

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.