With their playoff position already locked up, the Los Angeles Rams have already made it clear that Matthew Stafford will not play in Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, but it sounds like the team is planning to play superstar rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua – at least for a short time.
During his press conference this week, Rams head coach Sean McVay announced that Puka Nacua would be in the lineup this week in order to allow him to “do something special” before the team decides whether or not to rest him the remainder of the game.
“I think you’d like to be able to see him get an opportunity to do something special and then be smart with him,” coach Sean McVay told reporters on Wednesday when asked whether Nacua will be limited.
The “something special” McVay is referring to is almost certainly the NFL’s rookie receiving record. Nacua currently has 1,445 yards which is just 29 yards shy of the rookie receiving record set by Bill Groman of the Houston Oilers in 1960.
So expect Nacua to play on Sunday, catch a pass or two early in the game, and then head to the sidelines for the remainder of the contest to protect himself from injury.
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