In the second quarter of Sunday’s 36-19 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Rams receiver Puka Nacua scared his teammates and supporters when he left the game due to rib and shoulder injuries.
Head coach Sean McVay even made light of the fact that, for a brief period of time, he believed Nacua had passed away.
Nacua responded, “A little bit,” when asked if he felt dead. “My shoulder didn’t feel like it was in the right place, and I wasn’t breathing, but I was okay.”
After landing on his right shoulder during a jump catch in the second quarter, Nacua sustained the injuries. Cradling his arm, tears streaming down his cheeks, he appeared to be in excruciating pain as he made his way to the changing area.
After running some scans and testing his strength and mobility, the Rams training staff gave him the all-clear to play again. He did not add to his four receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown in the first half, but he did rush once on a jet sweep for a gain of 31 yards.
Nacua has struggled with a long list of injuries this season, which has occasionally made it difficult for him to practice, but he hasn’t missed a game in his rookie campaign. On Sunday, he became the first receiver in his class to reach 1,000 yards for the season.
Furthermore, he didn’t seem to think that his injuries from Sunday would affect his availability going forward as the Rams get ready to play the Ravens the following week.
Nacua remarked sardonically, “Like we just played a football game, when asked how he felt following the match. But we won a football game, so that makes me feel good.”