The Jacksonville Jaguars won't have much time to lick their wounds from the loss to the Seattle Seahawks, as they'll travel to London to face off against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7. The good news is that they just got an update that may allow them to get back into the winning column.
Following the Rams' win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that Puka Nacua suffered an ankle sprain, adding that the Pro Bowl receiver will miss the game against the Jaguars.
This is a massive break for Jacksonville when you take into account that its defense has struggled to contain top receivers. Just last week, Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a jaw-dropping eight receptions for 1162 yards with a touchdown, while Cooper Kupp had two catches for a touchdown.
The Jaguars won't have to deal with Puka Nacua in Week 7
A fifth-round pick in 2023, Puka Nacua had a banner rookie campaign, catching 105 passes for 105 yards with six touchdowns. Injuries limited him to just 11 games last year, but he still managed to reel in 79 receptions for 990 yards with three touchdowns. The former BYU Cougar bounced back nicely this season and registered 54 receptions for 616 yards with two touchdowns the past six games.
The Rams are surely thrilled that Nacua will return this season, but their offense will most definitely lack firepower during his absence. Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams will need to step up. He's second in Los Angeles with 26 receptions for 396 receiving yards with three touchdowns. Sophomore Jordan Whittington will also see an expanded role in the upcoming weeks.
The Jaguars secondary must step up against the Rams
As John Shipley of Sports Illustrated noted, 122 of the 295 passing yards the Jags gave up in Week 6 came in two plays. Head coach Liam Coen credited Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the creative game design, but you can also make the case that the Jacksonville defense failed to execute. That will need to change against the Rams.
Even though Puka Nacua won't be available, the Jaguars must account for Davante Adams. And that's the thing, this isn't a one-time issue. Ja'Marr Chase also had a monster game against them in Week 2. Tyquan Thornton also gave them trouble in Week 5.
The silver lining is that Jacksonville traded for cornerback Greg Newsome before Week 6. The former 2021 first-round pick gave up a touchdown, but he had just a few days to get acclimated. It's fair to expect him to face much better against Los Angeles with more time to prepare. Similarly, fourth-year veteran Montaric Brown played well in the loss to Seattle. He should once again see extended action in Week 6.
The bottom line is that not having to face Puka Nacua gives the Jaguars a massive break in Week 6 that could allow them to get back into the winning column. It will be up to them to take advantage of it.