Rams WR Puka Nacua leaves practice with calf injury

Nacua banged up again

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua left Thursday's practice with a calf injury, a team spokesperson said. He had already been listed as a limited participant on that day's injury report before the issue flared up enough to send him off the field.

This is not Nacua's first missed time this season. He sat out Weeks 2 and 3 with a psoas injury, then came back to be the Rams' clear top option at receiver. In four games this season he has caught 37 passes for 417 yards and a touchdown, production the Rams can not easily replace if the calf keeps him out.

The receiver room was already short-handed

The timing could not be much worse. Davante Adams hurt his hamstring in the Rams' Week 6 loss to the Cardinals, and coach Sean McVay said Monday that Adams is expected to miss six to 10 weeks. That already left Nacua as the lone proven, healthy option at receiver before Thursday's calf scare.

The injuries are not limited to the receiver room, either. Nose tackle Poona Ford ruptured his triceps and is out for the rest of the season. Defensive tackle Kobie Turner is dealing with a groin injury the team says will keep him out a handful of weeks. The Rams also lost kicker Blake Grupe to a torn ACL in Week 6. It has been a rough stretch for the injury report in Los Angeles.

Who's behind Nacua on the depth chart

If Nacua needs real time off, the Rams would be leaning on a group with far less experience than either Nacua or Adams: Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington, Tutu Atwell, CJ Daniels and Alex Bachman are the other receivers on the roster.

As of Thursday, the Rams have not said how long Nacua might be out. The only confirmed facts are that he was limited in practice, then left it with the calf injury. No word yet on whether he will practice Friday or what his status is for the next game.

Facts per ESPN. Opinion is the taproom's.