Rams put Puka Nacua on injured reserve, expect Myles Garrett to play at Arizona

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams placed wide receiver Puka Nacua on injured reserve to make room for receiver Brennan Presley on the active roster, coach Sean McVay said Friday before the team traveled to Arizona for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. McVay also said he expects edge rusher Myles Garrett to play despite a questionable designation.

McVay said the Rams initially had enough roster flexibility to keep Nacua on the active roster. That changed when they needed a spot for Presley. Nacua was already expected to miss at least the four games required by the injured reserve designation, McVay said, and will begin his rehabilitation.

“There was never going to be a time that he was going to be able to return prior to [the four-week period] anyways,” McVay said. “Some things changed where we needed that spot because of the all the moving pieces.”

With Nacua and Davante Adams sidelined, the Rams are preparing to give rookie C.J. Daniels Jr. a bigger role. McVay praised Daniels’ physicality at the catch point and how readily he takes coaching. He said Presley can line up at several spots and contribute on special teams, where he could join Xavier Smith and running back Ronnie Rivers as kick return options.

McVay said Matthew Stafford’s communication in the huddle will help the receivers taking on more work. He described how Stafford passes along reminders before players break the huddle, a detail that takes on added importance against an Arizona defense that blitzed frequently in the teams’ first meeting in Week 6. The Rams will also have to protect Stafford without offensive lineman Steve Avila, who is out with a hamstring injury.

Tight end Terrance Ferguson was ruled out as well, though McVay expects Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Max Klare to be available. Cornerback Trent McDuffie and safety Kam Curl were listed as questionable and slated for limited work Friday. McVay said McDuffie felt good after Thursday’s practice and was a little sore Friday. The Rams planned to test him with less predictable movements to see how he handled the workload.

Garrett was held out of Friday’s practice after playing a substantial number of snaps in his return from a knee injury. McVay said the Rams wanted him feeling as good as possible for Sunday. Garrett said his knee is still short of full strength and that he is working to regain his timing, both in his first step off the snap and when working with the other pass rushers.

“I felt like I was a little bit slow and it picked up in the second half,” Garrett said. “I’ll continue to work on it. It’s something that I pride myself on, being good at get off.”

Garrett and Aaron Donald will face rookie quarterback Carson Beck, who is set to make his first NFL start. Garrett expects Arizona to give Beck quick throws and use screens, draws and changes in tempo to slow the Rams’ pass rush. He said the defensive front will have to stay disciplined with the snap count and recognize when the Cardinals are trying to get the ball into space.

Garrett said the final two-minute sequence last week left him exhausted and gave him a sense of how much conditioning he still needs to regain. He also said the upcoming bye comes at a good time as he works his way back.

“You can only get in football shape by playing football and being on the field,” Garrett said.