All signs are pointing toward Puka Nacua and Alaric Jackson being on the field for the Rams in Week 1 against the 49ers, even though the NFL still hasn’t handed down any discipline for the offseason incidents that had raised suspension questions.
That silence from the league has become the biggest clue. If punishment is coming, it appears likely to arrive after the season opener rather than before it. NFL insider Adam Schefter believes that will be the case for Nacua, which leaves open the possibility that the receiver avoids any suspension at all this season.
Sean McVay said he expects both players to be available, and neither has been placed on the NFL’s exempt list. That means the Rams would keep them eligible to play while still paying their salaries, had the league chosen that route.
Jackson’s status matters just as much on the offensive line. If he’s out, veteran David Quessenberry would likely stay on the bench, and that would settle one of the Rams’ biggest early roster questions. The concern is even sharper because rookie Keagen Trost is on injured reserve with a hamstring strain, thinning the tackle group further.
Nacua’s return would shape the offense in a major way. He missed several weeks of training camp with a groin injury, but he has since been back at practice. Jackson also missed time this summer while receiving routine treatment for his blood clot condition, which he has dealt with before.
If Nacua is active, Los Angeles can open things up. If he isn’t, the Rams would be more likely to lean on tight ends and the run game while using Davante Adams as the top receiving target.
McVay has already shown he can adjust when Nacua is unavailable. Last season, the Rams rolled to a 35-7 win over Jacksonville in Week 7 in London without him.
Still, nothing is officially settled yet. The NFL can hand out suspensions whenever it chooses, which means Rams fans could still get a surprise Wednesday or even on the morning of kickoff. For now, though, the expectation around the team is that both Nacua and Jackson will be there when the Rams open the season.
In Other News...
Rams Suddenly Face A Tight End Problem After Scary Opener Injury
The Rams season opener against the 49ers took an early turn on a familiar kind of problem for Sean McVays offense: losing a tight end in the middle of the game. Davis Allen took a hard hit in the third quarter, was evaluated for a concussion and eventually carted off the field, leaving Los Angeles to sort through the rest of the day without one of its more useful options at the position.
Allens status was listed as questionable to return, and even if the setback proves temporary, it puts a little more weight on the depth chart heading into the next stretch. The Rams will need more from the other tight ends if Allen cant get back on the field soon, especially in an offense that likes to lean on that group for both protection and passing-game versatility. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Face A Brutal Pregame Swing Against San Francisco
The Rams pregame picture for Melbourne just got tougher on one side and a little more complicated on the other. San Francisco tight end George Kittle has been cleared and taken off the injury list, while Los Angeles will be without Aaron Donald, a notable absence for a defense that usually leans on him to change the games rhythm.
Kyle Shanahan has already said Kittle and Nick Bosa will have limited playing time as the 49ers ease them back from major injuries, which adds another layer to a matchup that was never going to be simple. For the Rams, the challenge is obvious enough: face a division rival on a long trip, with one of the leagues most disruptive defenders unavailable and San Francisco getting a key weapon back in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Donald's Comeback Starts With A Rams Reality Fans Won't Love
Aaron Donald wont be part of the Rams Week 1 group in Australia, a reminder that his return to the field is still in the early stages even after the comeback announcement gave Los Angeles a jolt of optimism. The veteran defensive star did not travel with the team for its game against the 49ers, and the Rams are taking a patient approach as he works back into football shape after coming out of retirement.
For a defense that has long leaned on Donald as its centerpiece, the wait is the reality fans were hoping to avoid, even if it was always part of the plan. Donald last played in the NFL in 2023, and the earliest expectation for his return is Week 2, leaving the Rams to navigate the opener without one of the most important players in franchise history. [Read more 🡒]