Puka Nacua’s abrupt practice departure has given the Rams another reason to monitor their star receiver.
Nacua did not finish the team’s joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys, and Sean McVay acknowledged afterward that he did not know why. Until the Rams provide more information, there is no basis to conclude that injury or disciplinary concerns caused his exit.
His medical history nevertheless makes any unexplained absence uncomfortable.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua catches a pass during the NFL football team’s training camp on Thursday, August 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Draft Sharks labels Nacua a medium injury risk for 2026, giving him a 51% injury chance and projecting 2.2 games missed. He lost five games to a Grade 2 PCL sprain in 2024 and one to an ankle sprain last season. He also played through a chest and rib injury in 2025.
Health is not the only uncertainty surrounding his Week 1 availability.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the NFL is reviewing Nacua over several offseason incidents and could issue discipline. Schefter said a suspension that sidelines Nacua for the Rams’ opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia remains possible.
No suspension has been announced, and the practice departure should be treated as a separate development unless evidence connects them.
Los Angeles must now await clarity on both fronts before assessing his Week 1 status.
