Rams WR Puka Nacua (knee; injured reserve) returns to practice with 21-day window opened Oct 22, 2024

Cooper Kupp is expected to return from injury this Thursday night, and the second half of the Los Angeles Rams’ dynamic wide receiver duo might soon join him.

Puka Nacua, whose knee injury has limited him to just 25 snaps so far in 2024, had his 21-day practice window opened by the club, officially designating his return from injured reserve and practiced on a limited basis on Tuesday.

Nacua had been dealing with a knee issue through training camp and the preseason but aggravated the injury midway through the second quarter of the Rams’ Week 1 overtime loss to the Lions. The second-year wideout had four receptions for 35 yards before his early exit.

Nacua’s placement on injured reserve soon followed, and so did the Rams’ offensive woes after Kupp injured his ankle in Week 2. The Rams’ normally potent offense has struggled to find its footing without the Kupp-Nacua one-two punch, averaging 212.8 passing yards and 19.0 points per game along a 2-4 season entering Week 8.

Head coach Sean McVay’s offense should certainly see a boost beginning with the expected return of Kupp for Thursday night’s home game against the Minnesota Vikings. Nacua has officially taken the first step to re-join his team, and potentially salvage the follow-up to his record-breaking rookie season.