Puka Nacua made his highly anticipated return Sunday against the Eagles and showed why he's one of the best wide receivers in football. He caught nine passes on 12 targets for 125 yards and added a two-yard rushing touchdown as the Los Angeles Rams rebounded with a 24-20 win in Philadelphia. Nacua had missed the last two games with what Rams head coach Sean McVay had previously called both a hip and groin injury, though the symptoms often sounded like those associated with a sports hernia.
It turns out it was a "pre-hernia," which essentially means there is a weakened or strained spot in the abdominal or groin wall where tissue hasn't pushed through yet. It isn't a true hernia, but it could become one. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio raised concerns about what this means for a player like Nacua, emphasizing that hard cutting and sprinting could make it worse and eventually require surgery.
"It remains to be seen whether the forces applied as he accelerated, changed directions, etc. will make things worse. The overriding question is whether it can and will heal over time, especially as he continues to apply stress to the affected area," Florio wrote. "Either way, it's a concerning situation for one of the best receivers in the NFL.
And it's something that could still result in a condition that will require surgery, during or after the 2026 season." More news: Lions, Sam LaPorta Break Off Contract Talks Hours Before Panthers Game More news: Eagles Make Intriguing QB Decision Hours Before Playing Rams The ongoing uncertainty is a tough blow not just for Nacua but for the entire Rams offense. They went 1-1 in the games he missed, with Davante Adams showing he's more than capable of taking over as the lead option. But there's no question this offense looks more complete with Nacua and Adams lining up opposite one another and the Rams' two-headed backfield of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum keeping the ground game a threat.
If he were to aggravate the "pre-hernia" and require surgery, Nacua could miss anywhere from six to 12 weeks, which would put the rest of his regular season in doubt. He's coming off the best season of his career in 2025, with 129 catches for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's also playing for a new contract, as he has yet to receive an extension and is currently in line to hit free agency in 2027.
That's unlikely to happen, but if Nacua's season were cut short, it could affect not only the Rams' Super Bowl hopes but also his future in Los Angeles and what his next deal looks like. More news: Tyreek Hill Reunion With Chiefs Gets Competition From Surprise NFC Contender
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