Rams expect WR Nacua, LT Jackson to play Thu.

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  Sarah BarshopSep 6, 2026, 06:21 PM ET

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  Sarah Barshop covers the Los Angeles Rams for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2016 to cover the Green Bay Packers for ESPN Milwaukee. She then moved to Houston to cover the Texans. She came to ESPN after working as a writer and editor for Sports Illustrated.

The Los Angeles Rams do not expect wide receiver Puka Nacua and left tackle Alaric Jackson to be suspended for Thursday's season opener against the San Francisco 49ers despite ongoing legal situations, head coach Sean McVay said Sunday.

"Yeah, absolutely," McVay said when asked if the expectation is the pair will be able to play the Niners in Australia. "That's what I've heard. I haven't heard anything different."

On August 30, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported neither player would be placed on the commissioner exempt list that day but both cases remained under the NFL's review.

In March, a woman in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit against Nacua that alleged he made an "unprovoked antisemitic statement" toward her and later bit her on the shoulder.

In June, Jackson was arrested on a domestic violence charge. He was not charged with a felony for the incident. Jackson's case was referred to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office in July and assigned for a pre-filing diversion available to eligible individuals that is an alternative to misdemeanor criminal prosecution.

At the start of training camp, McVay said the two legal situations were ongoing and something the team has been in contact "with both the legal system and the league to be able to get all the necessary information."

McVay did not yet say whether defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement after two seasons last week, would play in the game against the 49ers. McVay said Donald will practice on Sunday.

"We're truly taking it a day at a time," McVay said. "I'll have all those injury updates and stuff like that for you on Tuesday.

McVay also said defensive end Myles Garrett will practice on Sunday. Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has missed most of training camp while dealing with knee soreness.