Rams Optimistic Puka Nacua Plays Sunday, Because 2-4 Teams Don't Have a Choice

Puka Nacua is officially questionable with a calf injury, but Adam Schefter reports the Los Angeles Rams are optimistic their star wide receiver will suit up against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

"Optimistic" in NFL injury speak usually means a guy woke up without his leg falling off, but for a Los Angeles team desperate for a spark, they will take whatever good news they can get. Schefter noted that Nacua was feeling better on Saturday, and barring any pregame setbacks, the team expects him on the field.

"Adam Schefter reported a source saying, 'as long as there aren’t any setbacks, we feel good about him being available to play.'"

The Rams are sitting at 2-4 at the bottom of the NFC West and are currently laying three points on the road against a 3-3 Las Vegas squad. The game total is sitting at 48.5, which feels like a number that heavily assumes Matthew Stafford will actually have his favorite target running routes instead of wearing a headset.

Nacua managed a limited practice on Thursday before logging a concerning "Did Not Participate" on Friday. Usually, a Friday downgrade is the universal sign for a weekend in sweatpants, making this Saturday optimism a bit of a plot twist.

Relying on a Saturday vibe check for a soft-tissue injury is a terrifying way to manage a football team, but the Rams do not have the luxury of playing it safe. When your season is already circling the drain before Halloween, you throw your best guys out there and pray the athletic tape holds.

We will get the final word when the official inactive lists drop 90 minutes before kickoff. Until then, anyone holding a Nacua prop ticket is stuck refreshing their feed and hoping that calf does not tighten up during pregame warmups.