With Week 1 of the NFL season finally arriving, there are more than a few questions on the minds of fans of every NFL team. And for fans of the Los Angeles Rams specifically, one of the bigger questions is the exact status of star wide receiver Puka Nacua.
Nacua has been at the center of some messy off-field drama this season and has also been battling some psoas soreness as the season approaches. With potential repercussions from the league for his off-field behavior and his health status being a bit questionable, there have been concerns about his availability for this coming week's game against the 49ers in Australia.
But fans can take a deep breath when it comes to Nacua, because it appears that the intention is to play the star wideout like
normal. Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that Rams head coach Sean McVay expects to have Nacua take the field against San Francisco.
Rams WR Puka Nacua, who has been dealing with psoas soreness and also could be facing potential discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy for previous off-the-field behavior, is expected to play in Week 1 vs. the 49ers, per HC Sean McVay. pic.twitter.com/2tUXpKlrfW
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 6, 2026
Nacua, a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler in his three seasons in the NFL, posted a career-high 1,715 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns this past year.
Nacua faced controversy throughout the offseason after being named in a civil lawsuit alleging he used antisemitic remarks toward a woman on New Year's Eve before later biting her. His lawyers denied the allegations, but he checked into a rehabilitation facility in April.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Sean McVay reveals huge update on Puka Nacua's status ahead of Week 1
