Puka Nacua Leaves Rams-Cowboys Practice With Groin Soreness

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua left a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys after experiencing groin soreness, adding an immediate health watch to the team’s preseason work. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed that Nacua could not finish the session but did not provide a detailed diagnosis.

The early description is soreness rather than a confirmed long-term injury, an important distinction while the Rams evaluate him. Training-camp exits often trigger concern before testing and follow-up work establish severity, so the next meaningful update will be whether Nacua returns to practice or requires additional time away.

Nacua enters his fourth NFL season after leading the league with 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. That production made him the center of the Rams’ passing game and explains why even a precautionary absence commands attention during preparation for the regular season.

The joint practice also produced another Rams injury note: newly acquired defensive star Myles Garrett missed a second consecutive day because of knee swelling. McVay did not specify which knee was affected, reinforcing that Los Angeles is managing multiple high-value players cautiously rather than offering firm return timelines.

For the offense, Nacua’s availability affects route distribution, timing and the volume expected from the rest of the receiving group. The team does not need to rush a definitive statement, but it does need clarity before practices intensify and preseason decisions begin shaping the opening-week plan.

The most responsible reading is that Nacua is day to day until the Rams say otherwise. Groin issues can vary widely, and there is no verified timetable in the available reporting. Practice participation, treatment updates and McVay’s next media availability will provide the clearest indicators.

Reuters reported the practice exit and McVay’s limited update. Editorial image: Puka Nacua at Rams training camp, photographed by Sewageboy, cropped by Power1047, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

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