Rams WR Puka Nacua Doubtful for Sunday Night Football With Groin Injury

Puka Nacua is officially doubtful for Sunday Night Football against the Denver Broncos, and the explanation is a classic piece of NFL injury theater. According to Adam Schefter, the Los Angeles Rams star is dealing with a groin issue that has completely sapped his explosiveness.

The report notes that Nacua can functionally play, which is just a polite way of saying he can jog in a straight line but would get absolutely cooked by a starting cornerback. In the NFL, trying to play wide receiver without burst is like trying to merge onto the highway in a golf cart.

"Functionally, Nacua can play, but he has not felt like he can play with the same explosiveness he has had in the past."

Los Angeles is coming off a dominant 28-6 win over the New York Giants, but heading into Denver is a different assignment. The Broncos just grounded out a 20-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and their defense is not the kind of unit you want to test on a bad groin.

For the fantasy managers and late-slate bettors who were hoping Nacua would save their weekend, it is time to find a backup plan. Any player props attached to the Los Angeles passing game will see a massive shift with the offense missing its top target.

The silver lining for the Rams is that the front office views this as a short-term problem. Surgery is currently off the table, and the team is targeting next week's matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles for his return.

The Eagles are rolling into that future matchup after a tight 24-20 win over the Tennessee Titans. The Rams know they will need a fully operational offense to keep pace with Philadelphia, making a week of rest for Nacua the only logical move.

Expect Nacua to watch from the sidelines in the Denver altitude this Sunday. If that missing explosiveness does not return by next week, the optimistic timeline is going to vanish in a hurry.