Sean McVay expects Puka Nacua to be available for Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, even with questions still hanging over whether the NFL will move to discipline the Los Angeles Rams wide receiver under the personal conduct policy.
That is the key takeaway from McVay’s latest update. The Rams head coach has been clear that, at least for now, he is planning as though Puka Nacua will be part of the opener, while the league’s wider review of offseason conduct issues remains a separate concern.
McVay said: “Yeah, absolutely,” when asked whether he expected Puka Nacua and Alaric Jackson to suit up in Week 1. He also added: “That’s what I’ve heard. I haven’t heard anything different.”
Why McVay’s update matters
For the Rams, this is about more than just one player’s availability. Puka Nacua has been one of the central figures around whom the offense can be built, and an opening-week plan without him would force a very different conversation.
The background is important. On New Year’s Eve, a woman alleged that Puka Nacua made an antisemitic remark and bit her on the shoulder. A civil lawsuit was filed in March. Before being sued, Puka Nacua voluntarily entered a holistic care facility, then returned in time for the Rams’ offseason program and participated fully.
There has also been a camp issue to monitor, with Puka Nacua dealing with psoas soreness. So even before the disciplinary question is resolved, the Rams have had to manage his physical status as well as the off-field noise.
Alaric Jackson’s situation adds another layer
McVay’s comments also included Alaric Jackson, who was arrested on June 9 on suspicion of felony domestic violence. On June 13, his case was assigned for a pre-filing diversion.
That matters because the NFL has already reviewed other players with offseason legal situations and, in some cases, placed them on the Commissioner's Exempt List. Josh Jacobs and Jonathon Cooper were placed on that list on Aug. 30, underlining how the league can act while questions are still being worked through.
For the Rams, the immediate message is that McVay is preparing for Week 1 with both players in mind. But the broader question is still whether the NFL will impose discipline before the opener.
What comes next for the Rams
The next update will be the one that really matters: whether the league takes any action before the opener in Australia. McVay’s comments suggest confidence inside the Rams that Puka Nacua and Alaric Jackson will be available, but that does not fully answer what the NFL will do.
With Week 1 approaching, the Rams are still operating in a space where football planning and off-field uncertainty are running in parallel. For now, McVay’s position is straightforward: he expects Puka Nacua to play.
