The Los Angeles Rams are expected to have Puka Nacua back in the fold, but just as they perhaps get Nacua back, Aaron Donald is out. The Rams will have to find a way to overcome with or without Donald, and they still won’t have Myles Garrett.
It’s another example of this team not playing the way so many envisioned before the start of the season. The idea was a team of star players all playing at together. That hasn’t happened yet.
There’s still time, but in the NFL there’s never enough time. The Rams
need to get healthy fast, and they need to win faster if they want to make the postseason.
Talk of the “superteam” is no more.
Rams’ Aaron Donald to miss Week 4 game vs. Eagles, Puka Nacua’s status updated (cbssports)
“Donald unretired this offseason, returning to play for his former team after initially retiring in 2023. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year’s return has not been as smooth as he or the team had hoped. He sat out the opener when the Rams fell to the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, and Sunday will mark his second missed game of the season. Head coach Sean McVay said Donald felt soreness in his back after the team’s Week 3 loss to the Denver Broncos.
“He’s working as hard as he can to get himself feeling as good as possible. And we’re hopeful and optimistic that good days are ahead,” McVay said.
When Donald is healthy, he is an offense’s worst nightmare. The 35-year-old’s resume includes a Super Bowl win, eight first-team All-Pro nods and 10 Pro Bowl selections. He has 547 tackles, 111 sacks, 24 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries over 11 seasons in his career.“
Rams DT Aaron Donald, TE Terrance Ferguson ruled out vs. Eagles (ramswire)
“The Los Angeles Rams will be missing several key playmakers against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon. Sean McVay told reporters on Friday that Aaron Donald and Terrance Ferguson have both been ruled out due to injuries. Donald is dealing with a sore back and Ferguson injured his ankle last week against the Denver Broncos.
Additionally, Jaylen Watson has been ruled out, as expected.
Donald’s injury seemingly came out of nowhere. McVay said on Wednesday that he had a sore back and would not practice, but it didn’t appear to be anything serious. It’s unclear when or how the injury occurred. Ferguson went down twice in last week’s loss to the Broncos, injuring his ankle in the first quarter and then again in the second after returning.“
Sean McVay speaks on special teams updates, keys to beating the Eagles, Puka Nacua’s return & more (therams.com)
“Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay shares an update on special teams, wide receiver Puka Nacua’s Week 4 practice reps, discusses keys to beating the Philadelphia Eagles, and more.”
Rams players share favorite Spanish phrase in hilarious video ahead of Eagles matchup (sports.yahoo)
“While the cameras caught a lighthearted moment at practice, the Rams are likely locked in for Sunday’s game.
The Eagles are coming into the Week 4 matchup off a surprising loss to the Bears, who deployed backup quarterback Case Keenum with Caleb Williams out with a hamstring injury. Likewise, the Rams lost a game that was seemingly over by halftime as LA led the Broncos, 16-0.
But as Rams fans likely want to forget, Denver scored all of its 30 points in the second half to orchestrate an improbable comeback against the preseason Super Bowl favorites.“
Rams Cut Ties With Fourth-Year Wide Receiver After Blunt Message (sports.yahoo)
“”I would say, overall, he’s been inconsistent. We need to do a better job of tracking the ball, judging the ball, fielding the ball when necessary, not fielding it in other situations. He knows that, and hopefully we’ll get the improvements that we need in that area,” Ventrone told reporters on October 1, saying there were “no” thoughts of replacing Smith.
“We have a lot of trust in X. I really do. He’s put in a lot of time and effort in training camp, then, obviously, moving into the season. I think that he’ll do the necessary things to be able to sustain at that position for us.”
Sean McVay is 0-4 against Nick Sirianni (nbcsports)
“Rams coach Sean McVay has had tremendous success since becoming a head coach in 2017. Against one specific coach, McVay has struggled.
Via NBC Sports research, McVay has an 0-4 record against Eagles coach Nick Sirianni.
McVay gets his next chance to get his first win over Sirianni on Sunday in Philadelphia. The 1-2 Rams desperately need to avoid falling to 1-3.
In 2023, the Eagles and Sirianni beat the Rams and McVay in L.A., 23-14. The next year, the Eagles won again in L.A., 37-20.“
Los Angeles Rams Among 3 NFL Teams In Desperate Need Of Week 4 Win (sports.yahoo)
“No one expected the Los Angeles Chargers to start off 0-3, and yet, that’s where Jim Harbaugh’s squad finds itself heading into Week 4.
To make matters worse, the 2026 schedule won’t get any easier. On Sunday, the Chargers will take on the Seattle Seahawks on the road. They’ll be serious underdogs for that matchup – and rightfully so.
If the Chargers are going to save their season, they’ll need Justin Herbert to put on his Superman cape this weekend.“
Are the 0-3 Houston Texans already cooked? Plus, the emergence of Greg Rousseau and Dallas Turner (nfl.com)
“The Houston Texans have climbed out of the grave multiple times during DeMeco Ryans’ tenure to ultimately claim a playoff berth. The team’s resilience, toughness and unwavering self-belief helped it overcome an 0-3 start in 2025 to finish at 12-5 and reach a third straight Divisional Round.
One year later, Houston is back at 0-3. And this Sunday, the team plays host to the similarly disappointing (and desperate) Dallas Cowboys. Given the firepower the 1-2 ‘Boys possess, it’s not hard to imagine them leaving Reliant Stadium with the win. That would most likely represent a death blow to the Texans. Just look at this note from NFL Research: Since 1990, 109 teams have started a season at 0-4, and only one has gone on to make the playoffs. That lone outlier? The 1992 San Diego Chargers. They actually won 11 of their final 12 games to take the AFC West, providing a modicum of hope for the modern-day Texans. But do I actually believe Houston is poised for such a dramatic turnaround? Color me skeptical — HIGHLY skeptical.
The Texans need to right the ship right now. They must immediately fix their biggest issues and lean into the rugged identity that has helped them bludgeon opponents in recent seasons. When this team’s at its best, the hard-hitting defense sets the tone for a roster that excels at complementary football. At the moment, Houston is nowhere near that brand of ball.“
NFL Week 4 bold predictions: Brock Bowers cooks Chiefs; Zay Flowers leads all fantasy scorers (nfl.com)
“The Rams and Eagles treated the football world to one of the best games of the 2025 season, a 33-26 thriller that saw Eagles nose tackle Jordan Davis return a blocked field goal 61 yards for a touchdown as time expired. This Sunday, it’s déjà vu at The Linc. The gargantuan Davis finds the end zone again, this time on a scoop-and-score off a strip sack of Matthew Stafford.“
Eagles’ loss of Devonta Smith and supporting cast is only for the Rams gain after Aaron Donald’s out ruling (sports.yah00)
“Just two days after the Rams announced that wide receiver Puka Nacua was back with the team practicing, head coach Sean McVay took the podium before practice and announced the team will be without three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Aaron Donald.
Donald, who is out with back soreness, has not had the post two-year retirement renaissance that he had hoped for.
He has yet to log a snap playing alongside Myles Garrett — who is on theteam’s injured reserve due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. Donald has also only made four tackles this year, despite still being a factor in the team’s pass rush, as PFF has him ranked with a 74.8 grade.“
Comment of the Day:
“Stafford has more comfort throwing to Higs & Allen. I hope klare can block. Then again this weeks practice with Stafford and Klare might get 1 throw, 1 play they may have worked on in practice. I’m ready to see how the game goes.” -ad99
