Rams offense could be even more short-handed vs. tough 49ers defense

Already shorthanded without star wideout Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams Week 1 standout Puka Nacua's status for Sunday's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers is uncertain. 

Speaking with reporters, head coach Sean McVay revealed that Nacua, limited in practice Friday, would be listed as questionable for Week 2. However, McVay added that the Rams expect the 2023 fifth-rounder to give it a go. 

"We're being smart with him," McVay said via Pro Football Network's Adam Caplan. "You guys saw what a physical performance he had last week. He's been involved in every part of it. We just wanted to make sure we're doing everything we can to get him feeling as good as possible by Sunday." 

The former BYU star didn't practice on Thursday and with the Rams off Saturday, there must be at least some concern from their side. If Nacua's oblique injury prevents him from suiting up or he's limited, Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell become quarterback Matt Stafford's top targets. 

That might be an issue for the Rams, as the 49ers finished with the fourth-best coverage grade (87.1) and fifth-best pass-rush (78.3) in 2022, per Pro Football Focus. Last week, the Niners held the Pittsburgh Steelers to only 198 net passing yards in a 30-7 blowout win. 

Nacua had a memorable Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, finishing with 10 catches for 119 yards. It's impossible to predict how Nacaua's career will play out, and one incredible statistic doesn't make that picture any clearer. 

Per ESPN Stats and Info, with Sunday's effort Nacua became only the fourth player in NFL history to have 10 or more receptions while recording 100-plus receiving yards in their first career game, joining Keke Coutee (2018), Anquan Boldin (2003) and Sid Blanks (1964). Blanks and Coutee posted only one 100-yard game combined over 101 games following their debuts and neither caught more than eight passes in a contest afterward. Meanwhile, Boldin had 12 more 10-plus catch games and 37 additional 100-yard contests.

Few had Nacua as an integral part of the Rams offense heading into Week 2, but here we are. Like it or not, with Kupp still sidelined, he's a huge piece and the Rams will miss him if he can't play, as everyone predicted ahead of the year.