Rams list Puka Nacua doubtful for Sunday night at Denver

The Rams enter Sunday night in Denver with Puka Nacua listed as doubtful, putting their receiving plan under pressure before kickoff. Nacua did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday with an injury listed on the final team report as a hip issue. The designation means Los Angeles considers him unlikely to play, but it is not an inactive-list confirmation. The team will make that call closer to its game against the Broncos.

In the Rams' Friday injury update, coach Sean McVay described Nacua's condition as groin soreness even though the report labels it hip. McVay said a missed game would be Nacua's second in a row and expressed an expectation he could return next week if there is no setback. That is a projection about next week, not a change to Sunday's doubtful status.

The other receiving availability news cuts in a different direction. Jordan Whittington progressed from no practice Wednesday to limited Thursday and full Friday, and has no game-status designation. The Rams also list tight end Colby Parkinson questionable with a knee injury after three days without practice. McVay told the team site Parkinson was trending toward playing, but the final designation leaves his status open. For anyone tracking Los Angeles's passing options, those are distinct pieces of information: Nacua is doubtful, Whittington has been cleared from the report, and Parkinson remains uncertain.

Los Angeles has a defensive absence risk as well. Safety Kamren Kinchens is doubtful with a hamstring injury after missing all three practices. The Broncos' side of the same report lists rookie running back Jonah Coleman out with an ankle injury and receiver Marvin Mims Jr. questionable with a foot injury. These designations frame each team's available personnel without settling who will be active Sunday night.

For roster and fantasy decisions, Nacua's tag calls for a late check rather than an assumption that a replacement is already fixed. Davante Adams remains an established Rams receiver, while Whittington's return to full practice adds an available option if Nacua sits; the official report does not assign target shares or a starting combination. The final inactive list will answer the immediate question. The game is scheduled for Sunday at 5:20 p.m. Pacific, 8:20 p.m. Eastern.