Rams WR Puka Nacua expected to play versus Bengals
THOUSAND OAKS — Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is listed as questionable for Monday’s game at the Cincinnati Bengals, but head coach Sean McVay said he expects the rookie to play.
“He’s feeling good, and so is the rest of our group,” McVay said of Nacua, who had missed practices this week with an oblique injury.
The idea that Nacua would be a player to monitor throughout the week for his injury designation would have seemed like a fanciful one prior to the season. But through two weeks, the fifth-round pick from BYU has rewritten the NFL record book with the most catches through the first two games of his career (25).
Nacua earned the NFL Rookie of the Week honors after last weekend’s 15-catch, 147-yard performance. The award was delivered in the form of a championship belt that fellow rookies Steve Avila and Kobie Turner brought to him during Friday’s practice.
But Nacua has dealt with this oblique injury since the season opener in Seattle, and McVay will look for ways to protect the productive rookie with the next 16 weeks of the season in mind.
“I think you want to be smart about that and that’s absolutely something that you think about,” McVay said. “You say, OK, where are some of those spots to be able to maybe supplement their workload a little bit and be cognizant of some of those things to be mindful of the 17 games that we’re guaranteed.”
Rivers ready in reserve
One of the overlooked aspects of the Rams’ trade of Cam Akers and Kyren Williams taking over the backfield is that second-year running back Ronnie Rivers is now the Rams’ primary backup.
An undrafted free agent out of Fresno State, Rivers signed with the Rams after spending the preseason with the Arizona Cardinals. He played in eight games last season, logging nine carries for 21 yards.
Despite the limited in-game résumé, McVay has been encouraged with what he’s seen from Rivers behind the scenes.
“He did a good job in some of the opportunities he got last year,” McVay said. “Just the consistent body of work, whether that be through the preseason and practices, I think the way he worked, his ownership. He and Kyren are similar type players in terms of their build and their versatility.”
For Rivers’ part, he’s approaching this weekend the same way he has any game in the past.
“You have that same mentality as if you’re going into the game to be that guy,” Rivers said. “Everybody has to be ready because with this game you don’t know what will happen. So just keeping that same approach.”
Bennett update
Rookie quarterback Stetson Bennett IV remains on the non-football injury list, but McVay offered a small update Saturday while continuing to withhold the cause for Bennett’s trip to the NFI.
McVay said he spoke with Bennett recently and got an update on his situation.
“He’s doing really well, which I was really encouraged to be able to hear,” McVay said. “I’m not sure on a timetable with anything. But that’s been the good thing, I got a chance to hear his voice and he sounds really good, and that was really cool to hear.”