New NFL Rumors on Puka Nacua's Snap Count in Return From Injury for Rams vs. Eagles

Los Angeles Rams superstar wide receiver Puka Nacua reportedly won't be on a snap count when he returns to the lineup Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"The Rams want to see Nacua's conditioning level once he's out on the field against the Eagles -- and that always could impact his snap count -- but they enter Sunday with no intention of limiting his snaps, according to sources," per Schefter.

"Sources told ESPN last week that Nacua was dealing with mainly a groin injury that was impacting his explosiveness," according to Schefter. The two-time Pro Bowler did not feel like he could play with the same explosiveness he had in the past, but the Rams viewed it as a short-term injury that they did not believe would require surgery."

Tom Pelissero of The Ringer previously reported on Saturday that it was determined that Nacua did not need surgery on the groin injury that kept him out of L.A.'s past two games, but he "may be on a stricter snap count than usual" this week.

Still, Pelissero noted that there is "optimism" Nacua will be able to "make an impact" on the field this weekend.

In Week 1, Nacua led the Rams with five receptions for 74 yards, but they fell 27-7 to the San Francisco 49ers in Australia.

Coming out of that game, Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Nacua had "a little bit of soreness" in his groin, and he went on to miss the team's win over the New York Giants in Week 2 and loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 3.

Nacua had been nursing a psoas injury during training camp, but McVay noted that the groin ailment was a separate issue.

In Nacua's absence, Davante Adams was clearly quarterback Matthew Stafford's top target in the passing game, as he went off for eight catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants, and seven grabs for 137 yards against the Broncos.

While Adams is still a dangerous player and a potential future Hall of Famer, there is no question that Nacua is the Rams' WR1 when he is healthy and playing.

The 2023 fifth-round pick out of BYU is coming off a career season in 2025 that saw him lead the NFL with 129 receptions, while also recording 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Nacua was named a Pro Bowler for the second time and a First Team All-Pro for the first time as a result.

Even if he is at less than 100 percent and doesn't play his usual amount of snaps, having Nacua back in Week 4 should be huge for the Los Angeles offense.

Nacua is going to command defensive attention whenever he is on the field, so even if passes aren't going his way, he figures to open things up for Adams and the Rams' other wide receivers and tight ends.

Sunday's road game against the Eagles is a big one for the Rams since a loss would drop them to 1-3 on the season, which is something few would have expected out of the preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl.