The San Francisco 49ers will take on the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 of the regular season less than two weeks from now. There will be a lot of eyes on the first NFL game played in Australia, and the status of Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has been somewhat up in the air for multiple reasons.
Nacua has been dealing with a groin injury that has limited him in training camp thus far. It’s not seen as overly serious and may just be precautionary, keeping him out, but it’s still a concern.
Not only that, but there is also the possibility the NFL will suspend Nacua over an alleged incident that occurred and has resulted in a civil lawsuit against Nacua.
Given all this uncertainty, the Rams went ahead and traded for wide receiver Tutu Atwell. Atwell, who had signed with the Dolphins over the offseason, now returns to his former team and will give them some depth in case Nacua is unable to play in Week 1.
Maybe this is simply a depth move that has nothing to do with the Nacua situation. After him and Davante Adams, the depth chart looks thin, so there's a legitimate chance they just want Atwell as a solid No. 3 option.
Maybe this means that the Rams know something the rest of us don’t, either about Puka's injury or his possible suspension. If fans and pundits are reading the tea leaves, the star pass catcher could potentially not be present for the game in Melbourne.
49ers still have to prepare like Puka Nacua will play for Rams
Whatever it is, this uncertainty is neither good nor bad for the Niners. They obviously still have to prepare like Nacua is going to play until they know otherwise, but if he ends up not being able to play, it would be a huge break for San Francisco.
Nacua is one of the best receivers in the NFL. Without him in the mix, the 49ers should have an easier time handling a Rams offense that is seemingly always difficult to defend.
It’s not a sure thing Nacua will miss the game, but the fact that the Rams already acquired an insurance policy at least makes one think they’re preparing for the worst. There is no mystery as to what 49ers fans are hoping for.
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