The Los Angeles Rams received a positive update on Puka Nacua ahead of his expected return for the 2026 season, although the wide receiver is still not guaranteed to play against the San Francisco 49ers.
Head coach Sean McVay said Nacua is “making good progress” as he continues recovering from a groin injury. The receiver has been working with trainers and has been running at high speed, but the Rams will wait for more information before determining whether he will be available for the opener. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Will Puka Nacua play against the 49ers?
For now, the answer remains uncertain. Nacua has made progress in his recovery, but the Rams have not confirmed that he will play in Week 1.
McVay explained that the receiver has been able to perform high-speed work at a strong pace during his recovery. The next step will be seeing how he responds when Los Angeles returns to practice and begins its formal preparation for the game.
The first opportunity to get a clearer picture of his status will come with the Rams' official Week 1 injury report.
Puka Nacua's injury remains a concern
Nacua is recovering from a groin injury that has kept him from fully working with the rest of the team for much of the preparation period leading into the season.
Still, his most recent progress is encouraging. The fact that he is performing high-speed work indicates that the receiver is gradually increasing the intensity of his recovery.
Caution is still necessary. Being able to perform controlled exercises is different from being ready to play a full regular-season game.
Nacua is coming off a historic season
The importance of his recovery becomes clearer when looking at what he accomplished in 2025. Nacua finished the season with 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the NFL's most productive receivers. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
His production was critical to the Rams' offense and made him one of the team's primary weapons alongside Matthew Stafford.
That is why Los Angeles has every reason to handle his return carefully. Rushing him back could create a greater risk than missing a single game.
Rams and 49ers open the season in Australia
The circumstances make Nacua's situation even more important. The Rams will face the 49ers on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia, in the first NFL regular-season game played in the country.
The game is scheduled for 8:35 p.m. Eastern Time and will be streamed on Netflix. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Los Angeles will have an unusual preparation because of the long international trip and time-zone change. That makes Nacua's progress during the next practices particularly important.
What does this mean for the Rams?
If Nacua is cleared to play, Los Angeles would have one of its most important offensive weapons available for a major divisional matchup from the opening week of the season.
If he is unavailable, the coaching staff will have to distribute more responsibilities among the rest of the receiving corps and adjust the offensive game plan.
For now, the available information supports cautious optimism but does not guarantee his availability. McVay's comments indicate that Nacua is progressing well while the team avoids setting a definitive return date before receiving a complete medical evaluation.
Puka Nacua is making positive progress from his groin injury, but he remains uncertain for the Rams' opener against the 49ers. The next practices and the first official injury report will be critical in determining his availability. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}