The Los Angeles Rams have clinched a playoff berth. But as the Black Mamba once said: the job is not finished. And Puka Nacua knows they need all hands on deck to finish it, especially with the latest injury news.
L.A. Would like to wrap up the NFC West division. And with that, likely the top seed in the NFC. But unfortunately, they might not be at full strength for a short week in Week 16. They have a Thursday night road date with the Seattle Seahawks, who have an identical 11-3 record to the Rams.
Star wideout Davante Adams, who has been having a true career renaissance thanks to MVP favorite Matthew Stafford, seemingly pulled his hamstring while chasing down a deep ball in Week 15. And with only 72 hours between game days, it’s looking dicey as to whether he will be able to play on Thursday Night Football. He did not practice on Tuesday.
If the NFL’s leader in receiving touchdowns (14) does miss the game, it will open up a lot of snaps for a relatively unheralded group of WRs behind Adams and Nacua. And Nacua’s already got his eye on the guy he thinks can replicate Adams’ production.
Puka Nacua believes a 7th-round rookie will step up in Davante Adams’ absence
There’s really no logical choice behind L.A.’s top two WRs, which might be the best duo in football. Tutu Atwell has the speed and experience, but he hasn’t played a ton this year. Jordan Whittington is probably the de facto WR3, but he’s seventh on the team with just 17 receptions and ninth with just 152 yards.
Someone’s going to have to come out of the woodwork if Nacua is going to avoid triple- and quadruple-teams while Adams is out. And the All-Pro wideout is already putting ideas in people’s heads.
In a recent interview with The Athletic’s Nate Atkins, Nacua said he believed seventh-round rookie Konata Mumpfield will be the guy to fill Adams’ shoes. He even called Mumpfield Adams’ “apprentice”.
“But it’ll be a great opportunity for all of the young guys and especially Mumpfield," Nacua said. "[He]'s been behind him and watching him and is someone we see as Tae’s apprentice."
As Atkins noted, Mumpfield is the closest physical comparison to Adams among the Rams’ WRs. He’s 6’1” and 185 pounds. And while he has just five receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown this season, he did take most of Adams’ vacated snaps after the veteran went down in Week 15.
Could the Rams’ magical season be saved by an obscure seventh-round rookie putting on a Davante Adams cape? Puka Nacua certainly hopes that’s what happens when the NFC West goes up for grabs on Thursday Night Football here in Week 16.