49ers Might Face Rams In Australia Without Puka Nacua

Week 1 could get easier for the 49ers.

Nov 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) runs with the ball past San Francisco 49ers cornerback Upton Stout (20) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Facing the Los Angeles Rams in Australia to open the season wasn’t received fondly by the San Francisco 49ers when it was announced.

Nevertheless, that matchup is only a month away. Meaning the 49ers have to lock in and trick themselves into wanting to play there. Going all that way and losing will be devastating.

But there is a chance that winning the game will increase in likelihood. It turns out that Rams star receiver Puka Nacua could be inactive for the Week 1 matchup in Australia.

ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter recently dropped that nugget on his podcast. Here’s what he had to say on the possibility of Nacua missing the game.

49ers might not see Nacua

“Cases that I believe are now being reviewed include that of the Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who could potentially face discipline for some of the offseason headlines that accompanied him and some of those incidents last year with another woman,” Schefter said (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area).

“What did and did not occur, we’ll leave that to the NFL to figure out what did and did not happen. But, it’s possible that when the Niners and Rams play in Australia, it’s within the realm of options that Puka does not play in that game.”

I’m sure the 49ers would love for Nacua to miss that game. He’s a handful to game plan for and deal with. They’ll have no qualms about the Rams being without Nacua.

They’ll take every advantage they can get and won’t think twice about it, especially since the Rams recommended that the NFL make the 49ers their opponent for this game. It could be their form of retribution.

Still, there’s no telling if the NFL will suspend Nacua. My guess is they don’t, given the league’s history. Unless you’re caught using a performance enhancer, you’re probably not doing any time.

But who knows? I could also see Nacua getting suspended for two games, but nothing more than that. In comparison, 49ers receiver Demarcus Robinson was suspended for three games last year after a DUI arrest.

It depends on how the NFL views each offense. In any case, a ruling should come down within the next two weeks. Robinson was handed his suspension on Aug. 20, so Nacua’s ruling is looming.

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