With nearly a month until the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, the Los Angeles Rams are playing it very safe with their biggest stars. Puka Nacua suffered a core muscle injury in last week’s practice with the Dallas Cowboys and has been sidelined ever since. Myles Garrett, meanwhile, has dealt with swelling in his knee, causing him to miss the last week of practice, too.
Sean McVay said he expects Nacua to be back on the field this week but he’s not yet ready to return. According to ESPN’s Sarah Barshop, Nacua is not practicing on Monday. Garrett also was not in uniform to start practice, meaning he’s also not participating.
It’s not time to panic about either of these superstars, given the time of year the Rams are currently in. Nacua and Garrett would be sitting out preseason games anyway, and the team is just aiming to have them both ready for the start of the regular season.
Garrett’s injury feels a little bit more worrisome because it’s swelling in his knee and not just “soreness” like Nacua is experiencing, but it’s also easy to understand why the Rams would play it extra safe with their star edge rusher.
McVay should provide an update on both players after practice on Monday. Their statuses will be worth monitoring leading up to Thursday’s joint practice with the Saints.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua miss Rams practice again Monday