A suspension could come later but as it stands, the Los Angeles Rams are expected to have both Puka Nacua and Alaric Jackon for Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers, despite any off-field issues the two players have had this past offseason.
It’s big news for the Rams who will need all the help they can get against a generally tough 49ers team. Nacua and Jackson should help the Rams chances, and hopefully for the Rams they’ll be around for most if not all the 2026 season.
Keep an eye on which other
players end up suiting up such as Aaron Donald and George Kittle. Thursday’s game should be star-filled either way, but fans will have to wait to see if all the expected players can suit up or not.
Rams expect Puka Nacua, Alaric Jackson to play vs. 49ers (espn)
“The Los Angeles Rams do not expect wide receiver Puka Nacua and left tackle Alaric Jackson to be suspended for Thursday’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers despite ongoing legal situations, head coach Sean McVay said Sunday.
“Yeah, absolutely,” McVay said when asked if he expected the pair to be able to face the Niners in Australia. “That’s what I’ve heard. I haven’t heard anything different.”
On Aug. 30, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported neither player would be placed on the commissioner exempt list that day, but both cases remained under the NFL’s review.“
Inside the Rams’ Unique Plan to Make a 15,000-Mile Trip to Australia Feel As Normal As Possible (si.com)
“You plan to bring the house,” Burger said in the lead-up to their Week 1 contest at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. “You’re bringing everything. From the usual backup stuff we bring—helmets, pads, cleats—to different level spikes, to different types of jackets and cold-weather gear. We bring everything we have.”
While nonstop flights from both Los Angeles and San Francisco across the Pacific Ocean to Melbourne take roughly 16 hours, the two teams are taking two vastly different approaches to the trip. The 49ers departed for Australia last Wednesday, Sept. 2, giving themselves more than a week to acclimate to the 14-hour time difference. The Rams, meanwhile, remain in Inglewood. They’ll arrive in Melbourne the day before the game and leave immediately afterward.“
Rams players will have ‘full lay-out’ beds on flight to Australia (ramswire0
““I look at it as Friday evening,” McVay said, comparing it to the schedule of a traditional Sunday game. “It’s Tuesday night for you guys, but it would be the equivalent of Friday evening. Sleep through the night and then we’ll get there and we have kind of a rhythm.”
Players shouldn’t have too much trouble sleeping through the night on the plane because they’ll each have their own lay-flat bed.“
Rams coach Sean McVay sees late travel to Australia for opener as best course of action (nfl.com)
“McVay said the plan was influenced in part by how the Rams approached their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London last October, when they arrived on Saturday morning for a Sunday afternoon start. They rolled to a comfortable 35-7 win at Wembley Stadium.
However, they had already spent a week on the east coast after playing at the Baltimore Ravens, reducing both the flight’s length and impact of adjusting to a new time zone. This time, the Rams will be spending approximately 15 hours in the air, albeit with lie-flat seats available to all players and coaches.
“I feel like we’re just keeping it as normal as we possibly can,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “Sunday (is) like a Wednesday for us in our world. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, hop on the plane and go. We obviously have experience with doing it (in a) different direction, all that kind of stuff, I understand last year in London, but it felt like it worked out for us.”
LA Rams’ Former Super Bowl Starter Rejoins Broncos After Surprise Release (heavy.com)
“The Broncos signed Rapp on Aug. 20, adding an experienced option to a safety room headlined by Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga. At the time, Denver noted that Rapp had made 72 career starts with 12 interceptions, 31 passes defensed and 488 tackles.
Six days later, however, Denver released Rapp in a pair of corresponding roster moves.
The quick exit initially appeared surprising, but Broncos head coach Sean Payton subsequently explained that Rapp needed time away for a personal matter. Payton also left the door wide open for his return.
“He needs a little time at home,” Payton said, adding there was a “better than good chance” Rapp would eventually be back with Denver, according to The Denver Gazette.“
Monday Morning Rambling: Why 2026 Is the Rams’ Last Best Chance With Matthew Stafford (ramswire)
“As the Rams head into the 2026 season, there’s no doubt they are managing high expectations. After falling in the NFC Championship last season, the Rams made it a point to do what they can to give quarterback Matthew Stafford the pieces he needed to win another Super Bowl. Sam Darnold threw for 346 yards against the Rams’ secondary, so they went out and traded for Trent McDuffie. The Rams had a good pass rush, but lacked a proven closer, so they went out and landed Myles Garrett in a trade.
It’s the first time in NFL history that the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year are on the same roster. That doesn’t even mention that Aaron Donald came out of retirement after being away for two years. Yes, the same Aaron Donald who was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and the best defensive player of his generation. “
49ers’ Kyle Shanahan Does Not Mince Words About Rams’ Aaron Donald (sports.yahoo)
“Shanahan cited the joy of Donald’s retirement in 2024, noting the “opposite” for the DT’s return.
“[I] remember when he retired, I didn’t see the alerts and stuff, but I heard people yelling down the hallway cheering. I was like, ‘What the hell’s going on?’ And then, I got it on my phone, and it was probably the most we’ve celebrated in the offseason ever. And then it was the exact opposite this year,” Shanahan said.
“I wasn’t crushed on the Sunday that he decided because I decided a month ago it was happening. So I prepared for that the right way, and it is what it is. He’s a hell of a player, and we’ll have our work cut out for him.”
Rams leaning into villain role ahead of 2026 season: ‘These other teams probably hate us’(nfl.com)
“The Dodgers’ Los Angeles gridiron counterparts are leaning into the same role entering the 2026 NFL season.
“You know all these other teams probably hate us,” Rams safety Quentin Lake said, via the Los Angeles Times. “They think we’re like the new Dodgers or something like that.”
There’s good reason for others to dislike the Rams in 2026. They feature the reigning NFL MVP in quarterback Matthew Stafford, completed a blockbuster trade for Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, and topped their sundae by welcoming back All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald from retirement.
It’s not quite a Dream Team, but it’s certainly a squad that loaded up on talent like the Dodgers, and one that is focused solely on the ultimate prize: a Lombardi Trophy. With a clear intent to target football’s mountaintop, anything less will be considered a failure.“
Falcons name Tua Tagovailoa starting QB for Week 1 vs. Steelers; Michael Penix Jr. to be inactive
“Stefanski told reporters on Monday that Penix, who has been working his way back from last year’s season-ending knee injury, will be inactive against Pittsburgh. Cooper Rush will serve as Tagovailoa’s backup.
“Mike is getting better and better and better, and I’m very proud of him for how far he’s come,” Stefanski said, “but this will continue to be something that we work (on) together with Mike. We’re all on the same page, which is great between myself, Mike, medical, you name it. Everybody feels good about where Mike is heading, and he’ll continue just to work like crazy. That’s his focus, and I think he’s told you guys that. He’s gonna focus on trying to get better every single day.”
Stefanski did not say whether Penix will be the starter or backup once healthy.
“I’m gonna really stay in Week 1 right now and Pittsburgh and not speculate past that,” Stefanski said, “but (I) feel good about where everybody is.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell agrees on extension through 2030 season; fifth re-up of career (nfl.com)
“A memo sent from Compensation Committee chairman Robert Kraft to the other team owners, obtained by ESPN and NFL Network, expanded on the agreement, describing it as “heavily performance based, with more than 95% of the total compensation tied to Roger’s and the NFL’s performance measured against various metrics and at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.”
“We believe we are very fortunate to have Roger at the helm for the next four years,” the memo continued.“
Comment of the Day:
“I hate the 49 ers but you have to give them respect because they have earned it. I say this all the time, I do not know what I like better a Ram victory or a 49 er loss, watching them lose in the super Bowl was one of the greatest days of my life, I went on the 49 ers talk radio and listen to them cannibalize each other, and I when I went on I was faking like I was a Niner fan and said things like, that was it our window is closed, if I am being really honest we are not only the second best team but we are the second best team in our division.” -LosAngelesLenny
