Rams WR Puka Nacua made a surprise appearance on the injury report ahead of Week 2’s matchup vs. the Giants. Nacua ultimately missed the game due to his groin injury, but Los Angeles still rolled to a 28-6 win over New York.
Week 3 brings a tough road test against the Broncos on Sunday Night Football. The Rams will likely need all hands on deck, drawing attention to Puka’s latest injury update.
Is Nacua set to play in Week 3? Let’s look at the latest injury news, including Puka’s practice status, followed by the potential impact on fantasy football and Rams vs. Broncos picks for PrizePicks.
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Puka Nacua Injury Update: Will Nacua Miss Extended Time?
Before Week 2’s Monday Night Football clash with the Giants, Puka Nacua was absent from Friday’s and Saturday’s practices on the injury report. He carried a questionable status but was ultimately ruled out.
Los Angeles is once again in the primetime spotlight, facing the Broncos on Sunday Night Football this week. Following Monday’s game, that means a short turnaround for Nacua — a potential blow for his chance to play in Week 3.
At Wednesday’s practice, Puka was once again inactive. Head coach Sean McVay said he’s not worried the injury is “any sort of long-term threat.” However, McVay also said, “He’s not making great progress,” regarding his chance to play this week.
The injury was initially tabbed a hip, but McVay has since clarified that Nacua is dealing with some soreness in his groin. If Puka is to suit up on Sunday Night Football, his status likely needs to head in the right direction on Thursday’s and/or Friday’s practice.
Considering McVay’s comments, Nacua seems on track to miss another game. If that’s the case, who could step up for Rams vs. Broncos picks on PrizePicks?
Rams Fantasy Football Outlook If Puka Is Out in Week 3
Without Puka in the lineup vs. the Giants, the Rams dominated in a 28-6 win, totaling 481 yards and 318 passing yards. Los Angeles racked up 9.9 yards per passing attempt — a significant jump compared to 6.0 in Week 1’s 27-7 loss vs. the 49ers.
The Rams didn’t stray away from the pass by logging 31 attempts, eclipsing Week 1’s 28 total. WR Davante Adams took on a massive role with several team highs: 28 pass snaps, 10 targets, 8 catches, 195 receiving yards, and 2 receiving TDs.
Behind Adams, WR Konata Mumpfield totaled only 11 pass snaps in Week 1, but that jumped to 21 on Monday night. He turned that increased workload into only 2 targets, 1 catch, and 12 receiving yards.
WR Jordan Whittingham also missed Week 2 with a quad injury, and he was absent from Wednesday’s practice. In his stead, WR Xavier Smith tallied 19 pass snaps but generated only 1 target and 0 receptions last week.
While Adams took the spotlight with an absurd performance, TE Terrance Ferguson also rose to the occasion by turning 9 targets into 6 receptions, 54 receiving yards, and 1 receiving TD.
After yielding 31 points and 392 yards vs. the Chiefs in Week 1, the Broncos bounced back, giving up only 13 points and 268 yards in a 20-13 win over the Jaguars. That included limiting Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence to only -0.106 adjusted EPA per play (21st), per RBSDM. Keep in mind Denver limited Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes to 6.8 yards per passing attempt and 0.024 adjusted EPA per play (16th) to open 2026.
In short, the Broncos' pass defense remains one of the league's best, featuring a 38.5% dropback success rate allowed (first) last season. Denver’s conceded only 7.5 fantasy points per game vs. TEs, via Pro Football Reference, and the three-time All-Pro CB Patrick Surtain II will likely draw the assignment on Rams WR Davante Adams.
According to PrizePicks, Adams is projected for 65.5 receiving yards compared to Ferguson’s 41.5 receiving yards vs. the Broncos in Week 3.
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Make Rams vs. Broncos Picks on PrizePicks
Puka Nacua isn’t trending in the right direction to return from injury in Week 3. If he’s out, big games from Davante Adams and Terrance Ferguson last week provide angles for picks on PrizePicks. However, the Broncos present a difficult challenge as one of the league’s best defenses.
Don’t wait until kickoff — make your Rams vs. Broncos picks on PrizePIcks now! You can make picks on the winner, spread, and over/under on PrizePicks Team Picks, now available in 36 states. With PrizePicks, just pick players and predict More or Less on their stats!
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