Rams training camp updates: Puka Nacua ‘trying to take accountability’

Do you think the Rams have a tracker at their headquarters for how many days it’s been since Puka Nacua’s last embarrassing incident?

They might. Because we all remember how frequently the self-inflicted damages were occurring during that bizarre and jarring stretch starting late last year.

We had the biting incident and alleged antisemitic comments on New Year’s Eve. Before that, we had the Rams’ star receiver making antisemitic gestures on a livestream with a couple of controversial streamers.

We also had him publicly calling out NFL officials on a stream and in a social media post sent from the locker room, and getting fined $25,000 by the league for that. We had his weird post on X — a laughing emoji and “sam darnold” — after the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback led his team to the Super Bowl LX championship on Feb. 9, when Nacua also was recorded stumbling and dancing in a San Francisco street after the game.

Three takeaways from Rams’ practice on Wednesday:

Kyren Wlliams a red-zone receiving threat

Williams has rushed for 36 career touchdowns and has eight touchdown catches, including three last season.

Williams will continue to do most of his work carrying the ball, but he showed again Wednesday that he can be effective as a receiver catching several passes from Matthew Stafford, one for a short touchdown.

Alaric Jackson still managing blood-clot issue

Jackson, the starting left tackle and Stafford’s blind-side protector, did not practice, coach Sean McVay said, because he was receiving medicine to manage a blood-clot issue.

Jackson was treated for a clotting issue in 2022, and also before last season.

Veteran David Quessenberry took first-team reps on Wednesday.

Stetson Bennett looks comfortable, Ty Simpson making strides

With Stafford back, Bennett operated the second-team offense. Simpson did not have an opportunity through the first part of practice but took reps in the latter half.

“I’ve been really pleased with Stetson Bennett through this first block,” of four workouts, McVay said. “He’s playing the position at a high level. Ty hasn’t gotten quite as many reps but he’s really improved a lot from the spring until now.”

Speculation about Aaron Donald’s possible return remains a major storyline at Rams’ training camp.

But defensive end Myles Garrett said he does not want to push Donald to make a decision on whether or not to come out of his two-year retirement.

“If he’s here, I’m going to be excited to be his teammate, his partner in crime,” Garrett said Wednesday. “And I think we can do great things.”

Donald won the NFL defensive player of the year award three times. Garrett has won it twice, including last season.

If Donald comes back, he would join a team that is favored to win the Super Bowl.

“I’m going to support him either way,” Garrett said, “and I look forward to seeing whatever happens.”

Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson did not practice Wednesday as part of the team’s regimen to manage his blood-clot issue, coach Sean McVay said.

“It was exclusively just managing the medicine for the situation he’s dealt with for the last year,” McVay said.

In June 2025, Jackson began treatment for clotting in his legs for the second time in his career. The Rams signed veteran D.J. Humphries, but Jackson returned before the start of the season and started 16 games.

Humphries played sparingly before starting and struggling mightily in a late-season defeat to the Atlanta Falcons.

Rams star receiver Puka Nacua is in the final year of his rookie contract, and he was probably due to receive a massive extension before the start of the season had he not sabotaged himself with several off-the-field incidents, including one that led to a civil lawsuit.

But Nacua reported to training camp and appears even more fit than last season, when he led the NFL in receptions and was voted All-Pro.

Nacua, 25, is being sued by a woman who alleges he made an antisemitic remark during a New Year’s Eve dinner and later bit her while riding in a vehicle.

Nacua also faces a possible suspension by the NFL if it determines that he violated the league’s personal-conduct policy.

When asked Wednesday, Nacua said he did not have an update on his legal situation and that it was not a distraction going into the season. He said the NFL and Rams are aware of “some of those things” and that he is “doing my part in the communication of where I’m needed.”

Nacua, who did a stint in rehab during the offseason, said he was “trying to take accountability for the things that I know that I can continue to change and can grow.” He said he had a “really good connection” with his therapist and that he was finding “other places that are safe spaces for me outside of the football field.”

Given his contract status, Nacua was asked if he considered not showing up for training camp or not practicing.

“No, not really,” he said, “The game of football is a safe place for me and I enjoy that. ... It never crossed my mind that I don’t want to be out here with these guys.”

Is there a specific roadmap the Rams want to see before they ensure his future?

“I want to just be able to see him continue to be that positive influence both on the field and off the field — and he’s taken those steps,” coach Sean McVay said. “I am hopeful that we’ll be together for a really long time.

“It’s hard to say. I don’t know that I can really say like, ‘this timeline’ or stuff like that because I don’t think you want to dangle a carrot that way. I think he’s inspired to do right because his heart is right, and then I think the contract and things like that will take care of itself.”

The Rams are staying in dorms at Loyola Marymount during training camp.

Safety Quentin Lake, who played at UCLA, said it reminded him of his college years.

“You’re with your guys, you’re dorming with different people,” said Lake, who is rooming with cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. “But I feel like it’s good for us because you are able to be connected.

“When we eat, we’re all in the cafeteria. We’re in the same area. When we go back to our dorm rooms, we’re with different guys and talking to different guys. … You really get to know your teammates because at the end of the day, you want to know who you’re working with. You want to know what this guy’s family’s like, what are his morals and his values? And if I know that, if I know the person better, I’ll be able to really, really, really continue to grow with that person as well.”

The Rams’ practice on Wednesday is the final workout before players have a day off.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford will be back on the field after sitting out Tuesday for a scheduled rest day. Receiver Davante Adams, guard Kevin Dotson, tight end Tyler Higbee, defensive end Myles Garrett and outside linebacker Byron Young also are expected to return after a rest day.

Stafford looked sharp on Monday in his first training camp workout since 2024. Stafford sat out camp last season because of a back issue.

“He commands everybody,” Dotson said. “If defense wasn’t locked in before, ‘[No.} 9 is in, OK, hold up.’ ... He’s going to test you at every part of this defense that you’re trying to show, things that you’re trying to fake out.

“He sees it. Now you have to do it a little better. You have to do it a little different. You can’t show the same thing that you’ve been showing because he’s going to catch on because he has that mindset of, ‘Okay, you might have got it once, probably never get it again in camp.’”

On Monday, quarterback Stetson Bennett took second-team reps and rookie Ty Simpson got a few snaps. Coach Sean McVay indicated that determining who would take second-team snaps would be an ongoing process.

The Rams on Wednesday signed offensive lineman Blake Hance, the team announced.

Hance, 30, has played for the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.

Last season, he played in four games for the Titans.

Three takeaways from Tuesday’s practice:

Rest is part of the plan

The Rams went through a jog-through, players wearing ball caps and bucket hats as they ran plays. As planned, quarterback Matthew Stafford was not present. Receiver Davante Adams, tight end Tyler Higbee, guard Kevin Dotson and defensive end Myles Garrett also did not participate in the short workout in which no passes were thrown.

Communication improving

Safety Quentin Lake said the secondary is benefiting from the experience of cornerback Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. The former Kansas City Chiefs players, Lake’s training camp roommates in the dorms at Loyola Marymount, suggested incorporating hand signals into the system, Lake said. McDuffie and Watson have played in three Super Bowls, winning two.

Wednesday will be intense

Stafford will be back on the field for the final workout of the four-day work block. The Rams are off Thursday, so McVay is expected to push them in what is scheduled as a two-hour workout.

Offensive lineman Justin Dedich is not practicing because he was placed on the non-football injury list.

Coach Sean McVay said Dedich had “a hand accident” around the Fourth of July, but did not offer specifics.

Dedich played in six games last season, and started six.

The Aaron Donald watch — or more accurately the wait — continues.

Rams coach Sean McVay was asked Tuesday if he had had any recent conversations with the three-time NFL defensive player of the year, who is mulling a possible return after two years of retirement.

“We’ve kept in contact,” McVay said. “He’s feeling good. His training is going really well. But no new news on the front of like any imminent decision on whether he’s going to play or not.”

Rams outside linebacker Byron Young was slowed by a knee issue last season and still amassed 12 sacks and was voted to the Pro Bowl.

Young, a fourth-year pro, said the team will manage his workload during training camp.

“I don’t want to do too much and overload,” he said, adding, “day by day, we’re trying to last for 17 games and the postseason.”

Young, a third-round pick in 2023, has 27½ career sacks, said he has dealt with the knee issue for several years.

“I trust the training staff with everything,” he said. “They always came through for me and I trust them.”

CJ Daniels played at Liberty, Louisiana State and Miami before the Rams selected the receiver in the sixth round of the NFL draft.

Now Daniels is attempting to find a home, and a role, in the team’s receiver rotation, which is led by stars Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

In the first few days of training camp, Daniels has caught multiple passes from Stetson Bennett in full-team drills.

“He’s mature for a rookie, “ coach Sean McVay said. “You can see he’s come in, no-nonsense mentality. ... And then he’s really a great listener.”

Daniels is competing with veterans Jordan Whittington and Xavier Smith and second-year pro Konata Mumpfield for a role in an offense that ranked first in the NFL in 2025.

Here are three takeaways from Day 2 of Rams training camp on Monday:

Matthew Stafford in fine form

• In his first training camp workout since 2024, the reigning NFL most valuable player looked the part. The Rams are Super Bowl favorites, but that is only with a physically sound Stafford. If Stafford suffers an injury, Sean McVay will have to rely on Stetson Bennett or Ty Simpson ... or call Jimmy Garoppolo.

Myles Garrett is a huge presence

• Garrett, the reigning NFL defensive player of the year, is listed at 6 feet, 4 inches and 272 pounds. But he looks bigger. Though the Rams have yet to practice in pads, Garrett has already disrupted several plays.

Rookie receiver CJ Daniels making an impression

• Daniels, a sixth-round draft pick by way of Liberty, Louisiana State and Miami, repeatedly got open and caught several passes from Bennett. Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield also have made plays.

It was only the second day of training camp, and the first practice for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

And Stafford looked like he had not missed a beat since the 2025 season and playoffs.

Stafford, an 18th-year pro, dropped in contested passes over the shoulder of receiver Puka Nacua. He appeared to be perfectly in sync with receiver Davante Adams.

Essentially, Stafford showed the same form that helped him win his first NFL most valuable player award last season.

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua signs autographs for fans at training camp on Monday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

“It was a blast,” Stafford said after practice.

This was Stafford’s first on-field training camp workout since 2024.

Before last season, Stafford was suffering from a back issue that sidelined him for the duration of training camp. He joined the team for workouts a few weeks before the season opener, and went on to pass for career-best 46 touchdowns and led the Rams to the NFC championship game.

Stafford ended speculation about possible retirement during NFL Honors, where he picked up his MVP trophy and announced he would return.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passes in training camp on Monday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

In May, the Rams and Stafford agreed to terms on a one-year, $55-million extension that keeps him under contract through the 2027 season. But as it has been the last few years, the Rams and Stafford are evaluating on a year-to-year basis.

On Saturday, when Rams players reported to training camp at Loyola Marymount, coach Sean McVay said Stafford would practice on the second and fourth day of each four-day training block.

So after watching Stetson Bennett and rookie Ty Simpson run the offense Sunday, Stafford stepped in Monday and showed why he remains the most important player on a star-studded team that is favored to win the Super Bowl.

“He looked pretty damn sharp,” McVay said.

Stafford connected with Nacua, the NFL receptions leader in 2025, on a deep pass along the left sideline and other mid-range passes over the middle. Adams, who led the NFL with 14 touchdown catches last season, caught multiple passes on crossing patterns.

Along with those completions, Stafford said he learned from and appreciated a great effort by cornerback Trent McDuffie, who ran stride for stride with Nacua and then tipped away a pass into the end zone.

“So fun,” Stafford said of competition between accomplished players.

Rams wide receiver Davante Adams smiles during training camp on Monday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Stafford, the first pick in the 2009 NFL draft, said that as a younger player, his focus was to “get my footing in this league” and making sure he was doing everything correctly.

Entering his sixth season with the Rams, he continues to work to maintain a high level, and “elevate” teammates, he said.

“The fun thing for me is, I look around and there’s so many guys doing the same thing,” he said.

With Stafford working with starters, Bennett took second-team snaps, connecting with rookie receiver CJ Daniels on multiple completions. Second-year pro Konata Mumpfield made perhaps the catch of the day when he caught a sideline pass from Bennett off his back shoulder.

Rams coach Sean McVay low-fives wide receiver Puka Nacua at training camp on Monday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Simpson was limited to only a few reps.

Stafford will practice again Wednesday as the Rams continue preparations for their opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.

“I’m surrounded by so many great players,” Stafford said, “and I don’t take that for granted.”

On Day 2 of training camp, Rams receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams made several impressive catches on passes from Matthew Stafford.

Rookie receiver CJ Daniels caught just about everything thrown his way from Stetson Bennett with the second team offense.

Growing up in Inglewood, Andrew Hernandez heard plenty about the Olympics. Since L.A. was awarded the Games almost a decade ago, the 18-year-old watched preparations slowly improve the infrastructure of his hometown. He still never thought he would be able to attend.

Until now.

LA28 and the Rams donated 1,000 free tickets to 10 nonprofit organizations Monday, giving local youth such as Hernandez a seat at Olympic flag football or swimming competitions in 2028.

The Rams, as is seemingly their custom with a Super Bowl scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium, made blockbuster trades to improve an already star-studded roster.

Players will report to training camp Saturday at Loyola Marymount as favorites to win Super Bowl LXI in their home stadium in February.

And that does not factor in eight-time All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald’s possible return from retirement.

Much, however, can go awry on the way to the NFL’s biggest showcase.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford on Monday will do something he has not done in two years: Take a training camp snap.

Stafford was sidelined all of training camp in 2025 because of a back issue. He practiced when the Rams returned to their training facility in Woodland Hills and went on to win the NFL most valuable player award.

Rams coach Sean McVay said Saturday that Stafford would practice on the second and fourth days of each four-day training block during camp. So Stafford sat out Sunday as Stetson Bennett and rookie Ty Simpson took first- and second-team snaps respectively.

“He’ll be doing his own independent stuff where he’s taking care of his body,” McVay said of Stafford, who is entering his 18th NFL season.

Entering a season in which they are favored to win the Super Bowl, the Rams have added uniforms that pay homage to past glory.

On Thursday night, during a fan event at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, the Rams unveiled two alternate ensembles that commemorate their 1951 NFL championship team and their storied defensive front of the 1960s and ‘70s.

The “Classic Sol” uniform features a yellow jersey that honors the 75th anniversary of the Rams’ title. The “Fearsome White” uniform harks to the storied Fearsome Foursome defensive line that featured Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier.

Rams defensive players (from left) Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Myles Garrett show off the Rams’ new “Fearsome White” uniforms.

(Los Angeles Rams)

The Rams on Monday signed free agent safety Alex Cook and free agent offensive lineman Bill Murray, the team announced.

Cook, 27, played in 10 games last season for the Carolina Panthers, starting two.

Murray, 29, played in one game for the New England Patriots in 2022 and three games for the Chicago Bears in 2024.

Aaron Donald did not attend a Rams fan event Thursday night, but the crowd at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood featured many people wearing No. 99 jerseys. One waved a large printed cutout of the three-time NFL defensive player of the year’s face.

The Rams are waiting for Donald to decide whether he will come out of a two-year retirement and join a star-studded Rams team that is favored to win the Super Bowl, which will be played in February at SoFi Stadium.

“I think it’s real clear where we can start the GoFundMe to bring Aaron back,” team president Kevin Demoff joked to a raucous crowd that was cheering ‘AD, AD, AD.”

Rams receiver Puka Nacua appeared highly motivated and fit during the Rams’ first workout.

The fourth-year pro, who did a stint in rehab during the offseason and is the defendant in a civil lawsuit, caught several passes from Stetson Bennett while working in tandem with receiver Davante Adams.

Nacua is in the final year of his rookie contract. The All-Pro, who led the league in receptions last season, appeared on his way to earning a massive extension before this season. But off-field problems, including a pending civil lawsuit, have given the Rams pause.

They are expected to wait until after the season to determine whether to extend Nacua or, perhaps, place the franchise tag on him.

It didn’t take long for new cornerback Jaylen Watson to make an impression.

During the Rams’ first training camp practice Sunday, the 6-foot 2-inch, 197-pound Watson ran stride for stride with receiver Davante Adams and tipped a long pass thrown by Stetson Bennett. Safety Kamren Kinchen dived for the ball and grabbed it for an interception.

After trading for former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie, the Rams signed Watson, who also played for the Chiefs, to a three-year contract that includes $34 million in guarantees, according to Overthecap.com.

“I was just so excited, knowing the kind of person he is, what he’s going to bring to the team,” McDuffie said Sunday. “You saw him out here ... making plays against Davante, which is what you want out of a cornerback.”

All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua has had a massive contract extension put on hold by the Rams. His reputation has been questioned, and he has gone through in-patient rehab at a facility that addresses mental health, wellness and behavioral issues.

And with training camp beginning Saturday, attention again has been diverted to the incident that remains unresolved — an allegation that Nacua left bite marks on a woman’s shoulder during an evening of revelry.

The latest twist is a color photo of well-defined teeth marks that the plaintiff in a civil lawsuit against Nacua says he left on her shoulder. The lawsuit was filed in March, but the plaintiff’s attorney, Joseph M. Kar, sent copies of the photo to The Times and other outlets this week before discovery and other evidence sharing in the case has begun.

Ty Simpson listens to himself in the evening before he falls asleep. And also when he gets up in the morning and heads to work at the Rams’ practice facility.

The rookie quarterback hears his own voice on audio recordings as he recites the team’s play calls.

“I want to make sure it’s the last thing I think about when I go to bed,” he said recently, “and the first thing that I wake up to.”

Ty Simpson did not make any jaw-dropping plays.

He also did not make any major errors.

So call it a quiet, workmanlike beginning for the 13th player taken in the NFL draft, a quarterback the Rams ostensibly chose to become Matthew Stafford’s heir apparent.

On Sunday, in the Rams’ first training camp practice, Stafford was held out as part of the plan to limit his reps, putting all eyes on Simpson and fourth-year pro Stetson Bennett as they began their competition to back up the reigning NFL most valuable player.