Puka Nacua Leaves Practice Early, Injury Unknown

Jun 2, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua (12) during organized team activities at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Puka Nacua Leaves Practice Early, Injury Unknown

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Parrish Jr. | Last updated Aug 11, 2026 4:35 PM ET

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For Los Angeles Rams fans, the concern is Puka Nacua.

The star receiver left Tuesday's joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys early alongside team trainer Reggie Scott and was unable to return. Following the session, head coach Sean McVay told reporters he had no update on the injury.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford told ESPN's Lindsey Thiry he did not see what happened to Nacua during the practice.

"I'm not really sure what the issue was, but nobody ran up to me in a panic, so I don't think it was anything too major," Stafford said.

Nacua, entering his fourth season with the Rams, is a vital part of the team's offense. Last season, he recorded a league-high 129 receptions for 1,715 yards, second-most in the NFL, and 10 touchdowns, averaging 107.2 yards per game across 16 games and helping the Rams fall just short of a Super Bowl berth.

After the season, Nacua earned first-team Associated Press All-Pro honors and finished third in Offensive Player of the Year voting, behind the Seattle Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey.

Hopefully the injury isn't serious. Nacua is entering the final year of his rookie contract, making just under $6 million this season. Given his production over the last three seasons since entering the league as a fifth-round pick out of BYU, he's expected to receive a record-setting extension, one that could mirror the four-year, $168.6 million deal Smith-Njigba received from Seattle this offseason, which made him the highest-paid player at the position in NFL history.

Jan 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) with the ball as Carolina Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom (56) defends in the first quarter in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Rams open the preseason Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs, then face the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 22 and the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 27, games Nacua wouldn't play in regardless, since McVay is known for resting key players during the preseason. McVay does, however, allow starters to take part in joint practices, such as Tuesday's session against the Cowboys, to see how the starting offense and defense hold up against different schemes and personnel.

Further updates should come once the team announces what type of injury Nacua is dealing with.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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