The Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay drew swift fan criticism after wide receiver Puka Nacua suffered a knee injury on the team’s final offensive play during a 20-13 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
Critics questioned McVay’s decision to deploy Nacua on a jet sweep with seven points already in hand. Fans argued the coach should have used one of the Rams’ two capable running backs instead. He is not making the best decisions.”
Nacua had already missed Weeks 2 and 3 this season due to a hip injury, making his availability key for a Rams team entering Sunday’s game at 5-4. The injury compounds recent setbacks for Los Angeles, which has dealt with Garrett’s knee surgery and Adams’ absence. The Rams’ defense, led by Myles Garrett, turned the game around in the second half after Washington held a 10-6 lead at halftime. Garrett, playing for the first time since Week 1 after his own knee procedure, recorded his first sack as a Ram on a strip-sack of Jayden Daniels on Washington’s first possession after halftime.
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Despite early struggles, the Rams went 0-for-7 on third down before halftime, but Nacua still led with nine catches. He also fumbled in the second quarter, though the team recovered the ball. After the break, Los Angeles outscored Washington 14-3, with the defense limiting Daniels to no touchdowns in the final two quarters. The win improved the Rams’ record to 5-4, but Nacua’s injury, whose exact severity remains unclear, could further disrupt the offense as the season progresses.
The team has not yet addressed the play or McVay’s decision. An MRI on Monday will determine whether Nacua suffered a sprain or a more serious injury, though officials said they do not believe he tore his ACL.
