Rams WR Puka Nacua inactive for Monday's game vs. Giants with hip injury

Benjamin Royer, The Orange County Register on Sep 21, 2026

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua won’t play on Monday night against the New York Giants after he suffered a hip injury late last week, turning an oddly consequential game in Week 2 all the more interesting.

Nacua, who did not practice on Friday and Saturday, spent most of the preseason period on the sidelines nursing a psoas (core/lower back) injury. After pregame warmups, the Rams (0-1) deemed Nacua inactive. Rams coach Sean McVay said Saturday that Nacua’s hip injury is unrelated to his preseason ailment.

The star receiver joins star edge rusher Myles Garrett as unavailable for Week 2, after Garrett underwent knee surgery last Monday and was placed on the injured reserve.

Wide receiver Jordan Whittington (quadriceps), the direct backup to Nacua, is also inactive on Monday night. Wide receiver Tutu Atwell, whom the Rams acquired in a trade just before roster day, continuing his lengthy run with the franchise after signing with the Miami Dolphins in the offseason, is active for the Rams after being inactive during Week 1.

Star defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement just over three weeks ago, is set to make his season debut, however.

Nacua had five catches for 74 yards in the Rams’ 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the season opener in Melbourne, Australia. The 25-year-old Pro Bowler is coming off a season in which he posted career highs in receiving yards (1,715) and touchdowns (10).

____