Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
Odds by

    McVay expects Nacua (groin) to return next week

    Link copied to clipboard!

    LA Wide Receiver #12
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Rams coach Sean McVay said he expects WR Puka Nacua (groin) to be back at practice next week, “ready to go.”

    McVay was helpfully forthcoming with information today, telling reporters that Nacua’s absence is specifically due to soreness in his psoas muscle. Nacua does not seem to be at risk of missing any time in the regular season, and should return with more than enough time to ramp up for Week 1. He is deservedly a top-five pick in fantasy drafts.
Waller 'not moving the needle' with the Panthers
Patrick Daughtery and Denny Carter talk tight end Darren Waller's latest signing with the Carolina Panthers, and how he is 'not moving the needle' in fantasy football this season.

Related Player News

  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    This is mostly just for bookkeeping purposes, though it’s now been three days since Nacua was able to practice in full. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported Nacua is dealing with “minor soreness,” but “minor soreness” has a way of spiraling when teams aren’t required to actually be honest with their injury reports during training camp. The most important thing is, there has been zero indication Nacua’s Week 1 status is in doubt. We will let you know if that changes.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    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.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    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.

Rotoworld

  • FA Outside Linebacker #52
    Player Stats
    Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Free agent EDGE Za’Darius Smith worked out for the Browns on Thursday.

    Smith, 33, retired in October 2025 as a member of the Eagles. The team released him from the reserve/retired list in June, officially making him a free agent. He is apparently hoping to continue his career. Smith played for the Browns in Weeks 1-9 during the 2024 season before being traded to the Lions.
  • Link copied to clipboard!

    Patriots placed RB Terrell Jennings on injured reserve.

    Jennings spent time on the active/non-football injury list this summer. He was activated 10 days ago. It is unclear whether the same issue that sidelined him then caused his injured reserve placement. The Patriots correspondingly signed RB JaMycal Hasty.
  • NYG Wide Receiver #1
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Giants WR Malik Nabers (knee) participated in team drills on Thursday.

    Nabers reportedly sported a red, non-contact jersey as he took part in a walkthrough period that Giants coaches used to install plays. According to SNY’s Connor Hughes, Nabers caught a couple of passes while running routes against the defense today. Per Hughes, “everything points towards him being back for the start of the season.”
  • LA Defensive End #95
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Rams EDGE Myles Garrett (knee) did not practice on Thursday.

    When Garrett initially began experiencing knee soreness and swelling in late July, Rams coach Sean McVay said he expected Garrett to resume practicing by August 6th. Garrett retook the field on August 5th, but began sitting out again this week. Garrett, 30, has regularly played through injuries in his career. At this point, he has plenty of time to get right for the season opener. His participation is worth tracking, though.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Rams coach Sean McVay said he expects WR Puka Nacua (groin) to be back at practice next week, “ready to go.”

    McVay was helpfully forthcoming with information today, telling reporters that Nacua’s absence is specifically due to soreness in his psoas muscle. Nacua does not seem to be at risk of missing any time in the regular season, and should return with more than enough time to ramp up for Week 1. He is deservedly a top-five pick in fantasy drafts.
  • BAL Cornerback #2
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Ravens coach Jesse Minter said CB Nate Wiggins and CB Marlon Humphrey “are trending very well to potentially be back next week.”

    Wiggins was carted away on Tuesday, and Humphrey walked off with trainers on Wednesday. Minter’s phrasing is obviously non-committal, but it does seem like the Ravens’ starting cornerbacks will return before long.
  • NYG Quarterback #6
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Giants OC Matt Nagy said QB Jaxson Dart is “super talented,” but is experiencing “struggles” in training camp.

    According to Nagy, the Giants’ goals for Dart this offseason consisted of getting into the huddle, calling the play, getting up to the line of scrimmage, seeing the defense and playing fast. The New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard writes that Dart’s summer has not been “devoid of progress” because Dart has apparently mastered the first three items on the checklist — which seems like a fairly low bar to clear. Dart and his pass catchers have also reportedly struggled to connect downfield. Coaches like Nagy, pass game coordinator and QB coach Brian Callahan and senior offensive assistant Greg Roman dot coach John Harbaugh’s somewhat disconcerting staff. Dart is a talented player who may be able to overcome perceived schematic shortcomings. It would be really nice to see him perform well in the preseason, but Harbaugh has not yet revealed whether Dart will suit up this weekend.
  • DAL Running Back #23
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said RB Jaydon Blue and RB Phil Mafah “are going to get a bunch of work” in the preseason.

    Per Schottenheimer, Blue and Mafah “are in a tight battle for the backup running back spot.” Blue has received positive reports for some time now. His speed and receiving ability make him an ideal complement to starting RB Javonte Williams, who “probably won’t get a whole lot of run” in the preseason. If Blue can secure the role, he could warrant FLEX treatment on a weekly basis. Mafah (6'/234) is a burly rusher. Were he to win the RB2 job, he may be ill-suited to playing on passing downs, which could benefit Williams. We’ll see how things shake out in the preseason. Stay tuned.
  • ARI Quarterback #15
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Cardinals ruled out QB Carson Beck (rib) for the team’s preseason Week 1 game against the Raiders.

    According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Beck suffered a rib injury in the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame game against the Panthers. Despite feeling “soreness,” he managed to practice this week. The Cardinals “decided to keep him out tonight as a precaution and to allow more time to heal.” This pours a little cold water on Beck’s moderate hype, but the reporting suggests that the injury is not overly concerning. Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett will start, and presumably be relieved by QB Kedon Slovis at some point. No word yet on QB Gardner Minshew’s potential involvement tonight.
  • GB Quarterback #10
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Jordan Love said the “biggest difference” for the Packers’ offense in 2026 will be its “ability to finish.”

    You, of course, cannot simply flip a switch and “finish better,” but it remains notable that the Packers’ players and coaches have spent the entire offseason and summer pledging to avoid the late-game collapses that have so often plagued them in recent seasons. It would appear coach Matt LaFleur and company are dead serious about changing their mindset. That is always easier said than done, but offensive balance just for the sake of it looks like it might be out the window in Green Bay this season. Hopefully the same will be true of taking the air out of the ball the second they have a second half lead. Again, it would be far from surprising if nothing really changes, but it is rare you will hear a team have these kinds of conversations out in the open. A more aggressive mindset would obviously only mean good things in fantasy football.