The Rams are walking into Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a familiar problem hanging over them: injuries are still driving the conversation.
Aaron Donald was the biggest surprise on the injury report this week. The team labeled it a back injury, and Donald didn’t practice before being ruled out against Philadelphia. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport said Friday that it’s “a relatively minor back injury for Aaron Donald,” adding, “I wouldn’t call it precautionary because it’s a real thing, but really what the team wants to do is sit him out now with the hopes of healing this for the long term.”
Rapoport also noted that Donald is protected in his contract, so he’ll still receive his $660k game check. The Rams, clearly, are looking past Sunday and toward having him available when the season tightens up later on. He’s still a player to keep an eye on next week, when Los Angeles hosts Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.
The good news for the Rams is that Puka Nacua is set to return after missing the last two games with a hip/groin issue. Sean McVay pushed back hard on the speculation surrounding that absence, saying on ESPNLA, “Yeah, it’s not true…He’s been working, chomping at the bit to get back out there with his teammates this week.”
That rumor mill had spun in a couple directions, with some suggesting Nacua had been quietly suspended by the NFL and others believing he was being extra careful because of his contract situation. According to the reporting, neither theory held up.
There was also a separate line of speculation tied to the offseason incident in which Nacua allegedly bit a woman’s shoulder on New Year’s Eve. The civil case has been pushed to 2028, and the NFL has not stepped in. Jonathan Jones reported that a highly placed source said if the league wanted to punish Nacua, it would do so publicly.
Nacua practiced this week and said he had been dealing with change-of-direction issues and pain around the hip area, but also said he felt good. “The ability to put my foot in the ground.
It feels good to do that and working through it,” said Nacua. “I've been working through it like getting acceleration, change of direction.”
He was listed as a limited participant on Thursday and then practiced fully on Friday, leaving him without an injury designation and pointing toward a normal return.
One more change came in the special teams room, where Xavier Smith was cut the morning after Bubba Ventrone’s press conference drew criticism for the Rams’ punt return situation. Ventrone had already called Smith inconsistent and said he needed to improve tracking the ball, though much of the attention landed on his comment that the team wasn’t considering a change at punt returner.
Ventrone also made it clear the punting game needs to clean up. “We need to get more consistency from the punter,” said Ventrone.
“Ethan can do a better job being able to elevate the ball and match hang times and distance at a greater rate. We have to do a better job in his position.”
The Rams have Jack Bouwmeester on the practice squad if they need another option, and Ethan Evans’ job now looks a little less secure if the inconsistency continues.
Then there’s Myles Garrett, who has been out for two weeks after knee surgery. The edge rusher is still not on a firm timeline, but he is getting closer to the point where his 21-day practice window can open. Rapoport previously reported a six-week return timeline, though Jonathan Jones later said that would be the worst-case scenario.
McVay said Garrett is making progress. “He physically looks good,” said McVay.
“It's been great having him in and out of a lot of the different meetings while he's attacking his rehab. He’s making good progress, but as far as a specific timeline, not ready to be able to give you guys that.”
Jones also reported that the Rams are hopeful Garrett can return in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals, while a second source believes the more realistic target could be the following week against the Las Vegas Raiders.
In Other News...
Rams Enter Eagles Test With A Sudden Special Teams Problem
The Rams head into their Week 4 matchup with the Eagles carrying the usual injury baggage, but the special teams picture changed in a hurry this week. Los Angeles put tight end Terrance Ferguson on injured reserve, waived punt returner Xavier Smith and promoted running back Dean Connors to the active roster, a set of moves that puts extra attention on how the Rams handle the kicking game going into a matchup that already has plenty of personnel questions on both sides.
Philadelphia is dealing with its own absences, including DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, but the Rams immediate concern is more basic: who handles returns and how cleanly the operation holds together. Those decisions tend to matter most when the games get tight, and with another short-week style test looming against a banged-up opponent, Los Angeles suddenly has one more area to sort out before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Just Watched A Massive Eagles Threat Suddenly Leave The Game
Saquon Barkleys afternoon against the Rams changed in an instant in Week 4, when the Eagles star suffered a right hamstring injury on a non-contact run and headed to the sideline. Barkley was listed as questionable to return after leaving the field favoring his leg, and Philadelphia had to quickly reshuffle its backfield with Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley stepping in.
For the Rams, the timing mattered as much as the injury itself. Barkley is the kind of player who can force an offense to stay on schedule and stress a defense every snap, so his exit immediately altered how the Eagles had to approach the rest of the game. Any setback involving a threat of that caliber is the sort of development a defense notices right away, even before the full impact becomes clear. [Read more 🡒]
Puka Nacuas Return Still Leaves Rams With One Big Concern
Puka Nacua was back on the field for the Rams in Week 4 against the Eagles after sitting out two games because of a pre-hernia injury that involved hip and groin soreness, a reminder of how careful Los Angeles has been trying to be with one of its most important receivers. Sean McVay has already clarified that Nacua does not have a full hernia, and the teams approach has been to manage the issue rather than push it.
Nacuas return mattered because he had already led the Rams in receptions and receiving yards in Week 1, and he still found a way to contribute against Philadelphia. The bigger concern now is less about whether he can play through it in the short term and more about how the Rams balance his value on the field with the risk of the injury lingering over the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]