Puka Nacua Back at Rams Practice; Garrett Sidelined by Knee Swelling

The good news out of Rams camp: Puka Nacua is back on the practice field, per multiple reporters at the session. That's exactly what fantasy managers wanted to see with the Rams' Sept. 10 opener against the 49ers — in Australia, no less — creeping up fast.

Nacua is our WR1 for 2026 and it isn't especially close. He turned in 129 catches for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns across 16 games last season (2025), adding 105 rushing yards and a score on the ground, for 375 PPR points. Over his final five games of 2025 he averaged 6.9 fantasy points above his season mark — a receiver hitting his peak just as the new campaign arrives.

The less encouraging headline belongs to edge rusher Myles Garrett, who was on the field but not in uniform. He worked off to the side with trainers while dealing with swelling in his knee. It's not a full absence, but it's not participation either, and it's worth monitoring for anyone rostering him in IDP formats.

The Rams have already trimmed to their 53-man roster, so the focus now shifts entirely to prep for the Week 1 trip Down Under. A short runway to the opener puts a premium on getting your key contributors reps, which makes Nacua's timing here reassuring.

For Nacua specifically, a return to practice this close to kickoff removes most of the ambiguity. There's no reason to overthink this: he's a set-it-and-forget-it anchor at the top of your lineup, and his late-season 2025 surge only strengthens the case.

Bottom line: start Nacua with total confidence in Week 1 and treat his practice return as a non-issue. Keep an eye on Garrett's knee — the swelling and side work aren't alarming yet, but IDP managers should hold and track his status right up to game day.