PRESS CONFERENCE | Sean McVay discusses Puka Nacua's injury status, depth in the receiver room & their Week 7 practices

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks about ruling out wide receiver Puka Nacua for Sunday's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, his confidence in the receiver room, and the quality of Week 7 practices in Baltimore.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, guys, as far as injuries are concerned, everybody will
be full. The d MPs will be Pooka, Rob Havenstein,
they'll be out for the game, and then Byron Young,
Alerc Jackson and Tyler Higbee just being smart with them,
so Rob and Pooka will be out for the game.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Everybody else all hands on deck.

Speaker 3 (00:17):
H Just how how's Pooka looked this week? Even just
with what he's been able to do, I guess just
off to the side with his rehab.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Yeah, he's done really well. You know, I was able
to sit with him a little bit last night. He's
making good progress. Very optimistic about, you know, hopefully having
him ready after the bye. So I think it'll serve
him well and confidence in our other receivers to be
able to step.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Up health wise as this as healthy as the team
has been in some time.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
I think.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
So, you know, I think when you look at going
into week seven, feel really fortunate. You look around the league,
injuries are inevitable and we've we've been a part of those.
But for us to be talking about, you know, two
of our guys that were starters in Day one that
are out right now, and then obviously a kelo Is
on IR but feel really fortunate that, you know, we've
got the team that we do. We'll miss those guys,
but offers an opportunity for other guys to step.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
Up and love the depth of our team.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
How have you felt just the week about this week
of prep overall and what are the next twenty four
to forty eight hours look like in terms of the
final prep for London.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
Guys have done a great job, you know, I've been
so impressed. You know, there's so many people that have
been instrumental on in this being a smooth, fluid trip.
So I'm really grateful for all the people behind the
scenes that we certainly don't take for granted that have
made this really seamless. And our players have loved being
able to be out here. The Orioles have been outstanding hosts,
and we've gotten a good week of work in. You know,
we want to be able to finish it up the
right way, put the final touches on the game plan.

(01:35):
We'll travel to London to night, get there tomorrow morning,
have a walk through, and then let guys be able
to kind of rest relaxed, get some rest, and then
we'll be ready to kick off at two thirty. So
guys are excited about this business trip that we have.
But I think it's been a really good week for
team camaraderie that's kind of organically unfolded. And again, you know,
it's been about the week of preparation and guys have

(01:56):
done a great job.

Speaker 4 (01:57):
I know you said that the bye week wouldn't impact
how you what you decided to do with Puka, But
how convid are you though that getting you know, he
takes this week off practice, gets next week off, that
that'll get him kind of on the right now.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
You know, I would say, I'm careful to put the
cart before the horse and ate. I think the big
thing is is you're hopeful, You're optimistic, but I think
you want to take it a day at a time.
You know, I'm certainly not a doctor, but you know,
I think there is some optimism that that is the
end goal in mind. But if he's not able to
meet certain criterias to return to performance as opposed to
just being able to get back out there and play,
you know, then we'll continue to just allow him to

(02:30):
work in the meantime. But I know he's going to
do everything in his power he's attacked his rehab the
right way, and I am excited about watching our group compete.

Speaker 4 (02:37):
And you've gotten to do full practices with other guys
this week. So I guess what's your confidence level and
just the rest of the receiving group to step up.

Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, really confident.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
I think Eric Yarborn, Nahio House and Rob Calvaries do
such a good job. You know, we've talked about the
depth that we do feel fortunate to have, whether it's
Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith obviously getting too two out well
this week, getting him back I think is a big deal,
and conn out of Munfield is if very mature rookie.
So DeVante you know, has been leading the way with
Pooka throughout the course of the year. But those five

(03:06):
guys will be, you know, big time contributors for us
and looking forward to watching them do their thing.

Speaker 4 (03:10):
Robson deal with this ankle for a little while, is it?
I guess can you give it some clarity on how
I guess ongoing or serious that is?

Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah, you know, we're.

Speaker 1 (03:18):
Hopeful that this time off that he's had will serve
him well. I was actually just talking to him. He
wants to be out there more than anybody. And he's
such a great leader. He's got such a good vibe.
He's frustrated because he wants to be out there working
with his teammates, but he's been leading in the meantime.
We are hopeful that this time off.

Speaker 2 (03:34):
Will serve him well.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
You know, he's played a lot of snaps in this league,
and so that ankle has been bothering a little bit.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
I think he's such a warrior that he ended up
fighting through.

Speaker 1 (03:42):
But our job is to protect him, put him in
situations that are favable for him and for the football team,
and we are hopeful that these last few weeks, in
addition to having this week and the bye, will allow
him to be able to hit the ground run in.
But it's a really cool thing watching the way he's
poured into you know, Warren mcclennon, and the way that
he's played.

Speaker 2 (03:59):
And I feel fortunate for that.

Speaker 4 (04:01):
And just to clarify that nobody's questionable.

Speaker 1 (04:04):
It's nobody's questionable. Yep, everybody will be good. We'll rule,
We'll rule, Pooka and rob out everybody else. Be ready
to go?

Speaker 2 (04:11):
All right? Thanks guys, I appreciate y'all