Locals in the NFL: All-Pro wideout Puka Nacua could return for Rams-Eagles
Oct 2, 2026, 3:02 PM
Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua is expected to return for Week 4 against Philadelphia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
(Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – After two games without All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua, the Los Angeles Rams expect to have him back in the lineup in Week 4.
His return would give the Rams their leading receiver from last season as they look for steadier footing after a 1-2 start. For Nacua, the question is less about what he can bring to the offense than how ready he is to handle the workload after two games away.
In his absence, Los Angeles knocked off the New York Giants at home on Monday night before falling to the Broncos in Denver on Sunday Night Football. The Philadelphia Eagles host Los Angeles in the Sunday morning kickoff window.
Breaking: Puka Nacua does not have an injury designation and is expected to play Sunday against the Eagles, Rams coach Sean McVay announced. pic.twitter.com/u3LqaBVaWk
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 2, 2026
“Physically he’s getting in and out of his breaks, looks strong, looks sturdy, looks explosive,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “I think it’ll really just be a feel for the overall conditioning. Hoping the magic of the jersey on Sundays, he’s feeling real good there.”
Los Angeles has been tight-lipped about the specific nature of Nacua’s injury.
Nacua opened the season with five catches for 74 yards in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He entered 2026 with 4,191 career receiving yards and 19 touchdown catches.
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About Puka Nacua
Nacua’s path to Los Angeles began at Orem High, where he set multiple state records before starting his college career at Washington.
After two seasons with the Huskies, he transferred to BYU ahead of the 2021 season. He finished his two-year Cougars career with 91 catches for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding five rushing touchdowns.
The Rams selected Nacua in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft with the No. 177 overall pick. He quickly made that selection look like a bargain.
RELATED: Puka Nacua checks into rehab, will return for offseason duties
Coach McVay provides injury updates ahead of Week 4. pic.twitter.com/5lMuqDJwJY
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 2, 2026
Nacua set NFL rookie records with 105 catches and 1,486 receiving yards in 2023, scoring six touchdowns. He earned second-team All-Pro honors and finished second to C.J. Stroud in voting for AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Injuries limited Nacua during his second season, but he still finished with 79 catches for 990 yards and three touchdowns.
He followed that with his first first-team All-Pro selection in 2025, leading the NFL with 129 catches. He finished with 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games.
For now, the next step is getting back on the field. The former Orem and BYU standout has already shown what he can do in the Rams’ offense. Week 4 will be about how quickly he can get back to doing it.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in the NFL, Locals in MLB, and the Utah State Aggies. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
Parts of this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team.
