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    Puka Nacua (groin) dealing with ‘minor soreness’

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    LA Wide Receiver #12
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Rams WR Puka Nacua is dealing with “minor soreness in his groin.”

    Nacua left practice with a trainer early on Tuesday. Head coach Sean McVay initially was unsure on what Nacua was dealing with, but Rapoport now reports the 25-year-old is managing groin soreness. The Rams are being cautious with a minor injury but no reason for fantasy managers to fret; Nacua may miss some preseason time but there is no indication he is in danger of missing any regular season games.
Latest on Mayfield, Nacua extensions
Ross Tucker joins Dan Patrick to discuss recent NFL news with the Vikings announcing Kyler Murray as the starter, Baker Mayfield and Puka Nakua's contract talks.

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  • LA Wide Receiver #12
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    Same. We’ll monitor this, but there’s not any actionable advice to hand out until we get a more detailed report. A non-minor Nacua injury, of course, would be stratospheric news in the fantasy community.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    Nacua has had a civil lawsuit filed against him for biting a woman and making an “unprovoked antisemtic sentiment.” The star receiver checked in to a luxury treatment center this past offseason. Schefter confirmed that the NFL is still discussing potential discipline for Nacua and Rams LT Alaric Jackson. This probably isn’t something to be overly concerned about in fantasy drafts — we suspect any suspension for Nacua would be short-term — but Schefter believes it’s possible that Nacua is suspended for the Rams opener against the 49ers.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    According to Atkins, Nacua made some off-field changes this spring after spending time at a holistic care facility. Although the “best shape of his life” storylines are often overplayed, Nacua’s improved offseason workout and diet habits reportedly have him “gliding faster downfield than he has before.” Nacua will remain a “rugged” centerfield dominator as he contends for the overall WR1 finish in fantasy, but it sounds like the Rams may also be honing his downfield route running, entering his age-25 season. Being a more complete receiver is only a good thing for his fantasy-scoring outlook.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    Rapoport said point blank, “Do not expect a Puka Nacua contract extension before the season. Do not.” Nacua is arguably the best receiver in the league, but off-field issues have become a serious concern, to the point that the Rams aren’t interested in signing him to a long-term deal at this moment. Nacua is set to hit free agency next offseason, but the Rams would simply place the franchise tag on him if they don’t have a deal in place before the new league year. The good news is that, according to Rapoport, Nacua is in a better place mentally than he has been in previous training camps. If Nacua can keep his head on straight and make it through the 2026 season without any more incidents, he will become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league next year.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    Entering the final year of his rookie contract, there was some speculation that Nacua would hold out for an extension this offseason. That said, Nacua was present with the team in April for their offseason program, never truly giving any credence to the rumors. The somewhat troubled offseason notwithstanding, Nacua sets up well to return first-round value in fantasy circles as the primary option through the air for the Rams in 2026.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    The last we heard of Nacua, he was being checked into a “luxury treatment facility” in Malibu just days after he was alleged to have bitten a woman and made “unprovoked antisemitic remarks” to her. It’s been a tumultuous few months for the 24-year-old receiver who has taken the league by storm since joining the Rams as a fifth-round pick back in 2023. Now in the final year of his rookie contract, Nacua faces the possibility of having to play out the year without an extension, given his current situation. The fact that he’s back with the Rams for their offseason program is a sign that things are trending in the right direction for him. We’ll see where things go from here.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, told The California Post that the 24-year-old has checked into a rehab facility in Malibu. Nacua has popped up in the news cycle most recently for a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles alleging he bit a woman on New Year’s Eve and made an “unprovoked antisemitic sentiment.” McCathern said, “the combination of stories ya’ll have run is certainly a contributing factor” to Nacua’s entry into the treatment center. Rams head coach Sean McVay said Monday he’s hopeful Nacua can grow from his offseason incidents and hopes he is a Ram for a “really long time.” Nacua is eligible for a contract extension soon, though contract negotiations may be slower than they were for his draft classmate, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, as he works through his treatment amid recent incidents.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    It’s been a forgettable few months for Nacua, who has found himself embroiled in some controversy as of late, and was recently named in a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles for biting a woman on New Year’s Eve and making an “unprovoked antisemitic statement.” McVay said he and the team have had conversations with Nacua and that the star receiver “understands what the responsibility is, not exclusive to just the production on the field,” and said that he’s hopeful Nacua can grow from these recent incidents. The former fifth-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is due for a massive payday after totaling 313 receptions for 4,191 yards and 19 touchdowns over his first three years in the league. It seems likely that a deal between Nacua and the Rams will be reached before the start of next season, but the recent string of incidents could slow that process.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    According to Garafolo, based on his conversations, he believes Nacua’s extension may need to wait until the summer. Nacua, whose 4,191 receiving yards are second only to Ja’Marr Chase since entering the league in 2023, is due a big payday that will likely top the record-setting extension Jaxon Smith-Njigba just signed with the Seahawks. Nacua is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so we would expect a deal to get done before the start of the new league year. Nacua posted career-highs across the board last season, going for 129-1,715-10 while soaking up a league-high 129 targets.
  • LA Wide Receiver #17
    Financial investments at the wide receiver position could have been the Rams’ primary motivating factor, though having three high-end wide receivers can hardly be viewed as a negative, albeit a pricey one. Nacua is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will presumably sign “a significant second contract” soon. Adams is due $24 million this season and Brown is set to make $29 million. Florio believes today might have been the Rams’ self-imposed deadline for trading Adams away because his $6 million roster bonus just became fully guaranteed. It appears as though Adams will remain a Ram for 2026, but anything is possible. Stay tuned.

Rotoworld

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    Steelers signed LB Elandon Roberts, formerly of the Raiders, to a one-year contract.

    Roberts played with the Steelers from 2023-2024, starting 29 games and tallying 147 combined tackles with 3.5 sacks in that span. The 31-year-old started 16 games for the Raiders last season and now returns to Pittsburgh to be a veteran presence in the middle of the defense. With Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson the listed starters at linebacker, Roberts will need to compete for snaps to stick on the Steelers roster this season.
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    Panthers signed TE Darren Waller, formerly of the Dolphins, to a one-year contract.

    Waller returned from retirement to play in nine games for the Dolphins last season. He hauled in 24-of-34 targets for 283 and six touchdowns before a groin injury ended his season prior to Week 18. The 33-year-old has a chance at being a red zone target for the Panthers, who previously had Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and Ja’Tavion Sanders listed at tight end. Waller brings veteran experience as a late add who should get enough usage to make him an option as a low-end TE2 for fantasy purposes.
  • SEA Running Back #8
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    Seahawks RB Jadarian Price (soreness) returned to practice Wednesday.

    The Seahawks held a walkthrough on Wednesday and Price was on the practice field for the first time in five practices. The News Tribune’s Gregg Bell reports he was walking through with the starting offense. Good news for fantasy managers as Price’s injury looks to still be soreness and nothing more. It is just a walkthrough practice, but fantasy managers shouldn’t expect this soreness management to impact his Week 1 status.
  • BAL Quarterback #11
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    Ravens placed QB Skylar Thompson on injured reserve.

    Thompson signed with the Ravens in the offseason but dealt with an undisclosed injury in training camp. He heads to injured reserve, likely ending his season; he and the team may reach an injury settlement in the coming days. The Ravens signed former UFL quarterback Austin Reed in his place. Reed figures to get some game time during preseason as the team’s fourth-string quarterback.
  • MIN Quarterback #9
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    When asked about his future with the Vikings, QB J.J. McCarthy said, “this is the place I want to be.”

    With the Vikings naming Kyler Murray as the starter, McCarthy’s future in Minnesota is in question. The 23-year-old is entering his third season and still has plenty to work on, though losing the Week 1 starting job indicates his chances to start for the Vikings again are dwindling. When asked about his future, McCarthy stated he wants to be in Minnesota and will “continue to just do whatever [he] can for this team and this organization.” The room for error for young quarterbacks is thin in the NFL and though he is saying the right things to the media, McCarthy is a former first-rounder that may want to move on, should he have no future as a starter with the Vikings. He will start the season as the backup while the Vikings evaluate their quarterback room throughout the season; it wouldn’t be a surprise to see McCarthy depart Minnesota between now and this time next year.
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    ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Deshaun Watson will start the Browns’ preseason opener against the Bears.

    Per Schefter, Todd Monken informed the quarterbacks this afternoon that Watson will get the first preseason start and Shedeur Sanders will draw the second. He will face Buffalo. We don’t want to read too much into the order of the starts, but it’s at least somewhat notable that Watson is first in line. The next two preseason games will likely determine Cleveland’s Week 1 starter. Neither option will do the Browns’ pass-catchers any favors for fantasy purposes.
  • SF Cornerback #30
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    49ers signed CB Eli Apple.

    The 49ers cut Apple a week ago but are bringing him back a day before their preseason opener. He will be a depth option for the team versus the Titans on Thursday.
  • NE Running Back #28
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    Patriots signed Hassan Haskins, formerly of the Chargers.

    Haskins appeared in a dozen games for the Chargers last year. He only saw 17 carries, which he turned into 45 yards, but did tally over 150 special teams snaps. That could ultimately be his path to a roster spot in New England.
  • SF Running Back #3
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    49ers signed Zamir White, formerly of the Raiders.

    White only appeared in six games for the Raiders last year. He logged a dozen carries for 32 yards. With Kaelon Black, Jordan James, Isaac Guerendo, and Christian McCaffrey all banged up, the 49ers desperately need another warm body as they head into their first preseason contest. White could even see some run versus the Titans tomorrow, though he is still a long-shot to make the 53-man roster at the end of camp.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
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    Michael Penix said his doctor told him he has “an amazing ACL” and he should “never have any more knee problems for the rest of your career.”

    This is not parody, somehow. Penix infamously tore his right ACL twice while in college and then suffered a partial tear in his left ACL last year. The totally real doctor was presumably referring to his left knee. Penix, who hasn’t participated in team drills during training camp, later added that the only thing he can’t do in practice right now is take a hit. Last we checked, that is a major part of the game of football. Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa is slated to start the team’s preseason opener versus Denver later this week. Penix doesn’t seem to have much of a shot at being the Week 1 starter given his slow recovery, but the leash on Tua will be short. Penix remains the favorite to start more games this year, though only by a narrow margin.