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AROUND THE SHIELD — After one week of the NFL regular season, former BYU wide receiver Puka Nacua is headed to the Los Angeles Rams' injured-reserve list, while former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love will be monitored with the Green Bay Packers.
Nacua suffered a PCL strain in the same knee he injured over the summer, Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday after the Rams' season opening loss to the Detroit Lions.
The former Orem High standout who initially played at Washington caught four passes for 35 yards and added a 7-yard run on a jet sweep Sunday, but left the game midway through the second quarter of the Lions' 26-20 overtime win on Sunday Night Football with a limp. Nacua briefly returned to the game, but was eventually carted off the field by the medical staff and downgraded to "out" at halftime.
McVay said the injury was a re-aggravation of an injury Nacua suffered Aug. 4 during a joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers, but was "a little bit more significant than what was previously the situation," he said, per ESPN. He won't have surgery to repair the aggravated PCL, but placing Nacua on IR means he will be out for at least four weeks.
"You can see he's an impact player," McVay said of Nacua, who set NFL rookie records last year for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486). "He gets four targets, he has four catches for almost 50 yards. He has a jet sweep, he does stuff in the run game. He's a factor. He just is one of those guys that just makes a difference. And so, it's unfortunate for him, and I'm bummed out for the person more importantly."
Coach McVay says Puka Nacua will go on IR; Steve Avila an IR candidate, plus more updates.
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 9, 2024
Packers' Love dealing with MCL injury
The Packers won't put Love on the team's IR, but head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the former Aggies star injured his left MCL in the final minute of the Packers' 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Friday in Brazil.
The coach said backup quarterback Malik Willis will start Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts "if Jordan's not cleared," per the Associated Press. But MCL injuries typically sideline players for multiple games.
Though LaFleur didn't give a timeline for Love's return to play, he offered no suggestion of a return by the weekend, either.
"I know he's doing everything in his power," LaFleur said Monday, per the team's website. "I know he's spending a lot of time trying to get back as soon as possible. But certainly we're not going to put him in a position where if he can't protect himself that he'd go out there."
Going into this next week with a sense of urgency pic.twitter.com/KIrBwTmFjU
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 9, 2024
Johnson ruled out for Bills
Former Weber State cornerback Taron Johnson was ruled out for Thursday night's Week 2 game against Miami Dolphins after the former collegiate star left early in the first quarter with a forearm injury.
Johnson made one tackle on defense before exiting with the injury, for which Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott did not give a timeline and said the team would continue to evaluate his recovery.
Ravens' Van Noy recovering from eye injury
Lamar Jackson wasn't the only player absent from Monday's practice in Baltimore.
Former BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy was one of five notable players absent from practice after suffering an eye injury in the Ravens' 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The others were Jackson, cornerback Nate Wiggins, wide receiver Deonte Harty and linebacker Adisa Isaac, per the team website.
Van Noy started at Sam linebacker against the Chiefs and had one tackle and a quarterback hurry in 20 defensive snaps before exiting the game with an injury, which Steve Wyche of the NFL Network reported was a cracked orbital bone.
