Rams Get Positive Puka Nacua Injury Update, Remain Cautious With Myles Garrett

The Rams received encouraging news on Puka Nacua while Myles Garrett was held out of joint practice with the Cowboys due to knee swelling.

Aug 11, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett (left) talks with vice president of sports medicine and performance Reggie Scott during a joint practice against the Dallas Cowboys at the Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Los Angeles Rams wrapped up their joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, but it didn’t come without its share of injuries. Wide receiver Puka Nacua left practice about 45 minutes early and did not return while edge rusher Myles Garrett sat out practice completely. 

Rams Get Positive Update on Puka Nacua

Head coach Sean McVay said that he wasn’t sure exactly what happened to Nacua. 

“He was not able to finish practice so something happened. I'll have an update on it. I'm not sure exactly what that was,” said McVay. Added quarterback Matthew Stafford, “I'm not really sure what the issue was but nobody ran up to me in a panic, so I don’t think it was anything too major.”

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport confirmed that it was nothing major for Nacua. Rapoport reported that Nacua is dealing with some minor soreness in his groin and that the team was just being cautious. 

#Rams WR Puka Nacua, who left practice while walking with a trainer, is dealing with minor soreness in his groin, I'm told. The team is just being cautious.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 11, 2026

Myles Garrett Held Out With Knee Swelling

Nacua wasn’t the only player the Rams were cautious with on Tuesday. After missing three consecutive practices during training camp, Garrett returned to the field for the final two days. He also practiced when the team got back to Woodland Hills. However, Garrett was held out once again for the joint practice with the Cowboys due to some swelling in his knee. McVay said that Garrett felt 85 percent, but the team erred on the side of caution. 

“We just erred on the side of caution,” said McVay. “He wanted to be able to be out there, but we want to make sure that when he returns to play, he's able to return to full performance and feel like himself. There's nothing to be concerned about. It was just us erring on the side of caution.”

Rams Continue to Prioritize Health Ahead of Week 1

The Rams have been cautious all offseason with key players on both sides of the ball. Stafford has been practicing every other day while the Rams have held out wide receiver Davante Adams with rest days. Left tackle Alaric Jackson has missed some time as he manages blood clot medication and edge rusher Byron Young has missed practice with some knee soreness. 

It shouldn’t be surprising that the Rams are being cautious with injuries and their star players. It does the Rams no good if Myles Garrett hurts his knee in August when they’re going to need him in November. The focus remains staying as healthy as possible for the start of the regular season. The goal is winning Week 1, not a joint practice against the Cowboys. 

The Rams will start preparing for their preseason game on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. As in past years, no starters or key depth players are expected to play during the preseason, with health being the priority.

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