Puka Nacua’s legal situation still hasn’t reached a point where the NFL has made a clear call on discipline, and with less than two weeks left before the 2026 season begins, the Rams wideout remains in limbo.
One notable development Sunday: Nacua was not placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, according to The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero. That designation would have put him on paid administrative leave while the league continued reviewing serious legal issues or possible personal conduct policy violations.
Three players did land on the exempt list: Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathan Cooper and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Terrion Arnold.
Even without that move, Nacua’s situation is still being examined by the league, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday. Schefter had reported on Aug. 11 that Nacua could be suspended for the Rams’ season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 in Australia.
“Right now, there are some things going on behind closed doors that we don’t have full access to, that are going to have a significant impact on the season, depending on how these conversations go,” Schefter said at the time.
The former BYU and Orem High standout spent part of the offseason in a “holistic care facility” to get professional help after a series of controversies involving the 25-year-old late in the 2025 season.
In March, a Los Angeles woman filed a civil lawsuit claiming Nacua “forcibly” bit her shoulder and made an “unprovoked antisemitic statement” during a New Year’s Eve outing, according to the court document obtained by ESPN.
Two weeks ago, a Los Angeles County judge set the civil trial for March 27, 2028, with a final status conference scheduled for March 14 that same year.
Nacua spoke publicly for the first time since entering rehab in early June and said he was working through off-field character issues.
“Something that I feel like I’ve learned is, it’s OK to ask for support,” Nacua said, per the Los Angeles Times. “And then to recognize the platform that I have in being a professional football player, and trying to use that for the betterment of myself and for those around me.”
On the field, he also missed a large portion of training camp in August because of soreness in his psoas, a deep core muscle and primary hip flexor. He left a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 11 because of tightness and discomfort, but returned to practice Sunday, according to numerous reports.
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