Schefter: Nacua could face suspension

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.

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.

Jackson has been dealing with this blood clot condition for the past year and Rams head coach Sean McVay said Jackson was absent Wednesday as he deals with the treatment for the condition. It doesn’t seem to be a major injury issue for now, but certainly one worth keeping an eye on. Jackson has also been dealing with off-the-field issues stemming this offseason but his practice absence seemed to be only related to his blood clot treatment.

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.

Prosecutors told The Athletic that Jackson will not be facing criminal charges as a result of a domestic violence arrest in June. The 28-year-old was arrested on a felony domestic battery charge after police responded to a call to his home. However, charges are not being filed against him. Jackson has started 45 regular-season games for the Rams over the last three seasons and was also facing legal issues after he was sued in November 2025 by “a woman who accused him of recording sexual acts with her without her consent.” This case is headed for pre-filing diversion, which may constitute a violation of the league’s Personal Conduct Policy and still lead to a suspension, pending league review.

The charge against Jackson, 27, who has been with the Rams since entering the NFL in 2021, was for “a person who willfully inflicts corporal injury,” according to the LAPD. Jackson, who has played in 45 regular season games for the Rams over the past three seasons, has a history of off-the-field issues, including a 2024 suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Jackson last November was sued “by a woman who alleged he recorded her without her consent during sex, repeatedly refused to delete the video and taunted her with it,” according to ESPN. Jackson is one of several Rams players facing legal issues this offseason.

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.

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.

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.

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.