Insider shuts down bizarre Puka Nacua conspiracy theory

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is returning to the field Sunday, but his two-game absence apparently created enough room for a much stranger explanation to take hold.

With Nacua sidelined by a hip and groin issue, speculation circulated that his absence wasn't really injury related at all. One theory suggested the NFL was quietly keeping Nacua off the field because of his off-field troubles.

A highly placed source has now pushed back on that idea.

Puka Nacua absence sparks unusual NFL suspension theory

According to The Athletic's Jonathan Jones, one theory making the rounds suggested Nacua was essentially serving a secret NFL suspension rather than missing games because of an injury.

Nacua faces a civil lawsuit stemming from allegations that he bit two women and made an antisemitic statement. He also apologized last December after making an antisemitic gesture during a livestream.

The NFL has not announced a suspension.

A highly placed source told The Athletic that if the league wanted to punish Nacua, it would do so publicly.

That makes the explanation for Nacua's absence considerably less mysterious.

He has been dealing with hip and groin problems dating back to training camp and missed the Rams' last two games after experiencing discomfort during a Sept. 17 practice.

Rams getting Puka Nacua back against Eagles

Whatever theories circulated during his absence, Nacua is now ready to return.

The Rams listed him as a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday before he practiced fully Friday. He carries no injury designation into Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Head coach Sean McVay also left little ambiguity about Nacua's status.

When asked Friday whether his star receiver would be ready to play, McVay said, "He will."

Los Angeles could still monitor Nacua's workload as he works his way back into game action. McVay said the Rams will be willing to adjust his snap count depending on how Nacua responds.

That's a much less exciting explanation than a secret NFL suspension.

It also happens to be the one supported by the Rams' injury reports, an insider's intel and his return to the field Sunday.