LOS ANGELES — Rams star wide receiver Puka Nacua experienced soreness in his psoas during the joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, coach Sean McVay said, causing him to work off to the side with a trainer – along with edge rusher Myles Garrett – during practice Thursday.
Read more Broken engine parts shattered the Ryanair plane window that a passenger’s head got sucked into: NTSB
“We’re just being smart with him,” McVay said of Nacua, who experienced deep core muscle tightness. “Expect him to be back next week ready to go.”
McVay also announced that Stetson Bennett IV will start Saturday’s preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on the road Saturday afternoon, with first-round draft pick Ty Simpson backing him up. Offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase will be calling plays on offense, McVay said.
Earlier this week, McVay said he was still mulling whether Bennett, 28 and in his fourth season with the Rams, would play in the preseason after having taken the majority of the reps during training camp action – including Tuesday’s joint practice with the Cowboys. Last season, veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo did not play in the preseason as the assumed backup to Matthew Stafford.
“Good command from both quarterbacks, consistently making good decisions, playing within timing and rhythm, getting in and out of the huddle with good communication, and seeing both Stetson and Ty do what they’ve been doing,” McVay said of what he’s looking to see from his pair of preseason quarterbacks.
Learning on the line
McVay put it bluntly when it comes to the crop of rookies the Rams have ahead of the 2026 season.
On a Super Bowl contender, the opportunities for playing time aren’t guaranteed for fresh faces.
“It’ll be hard for rookies to play for us, which is a positive,” McVay said. “Rookies will play throughout preseason, and nothing is set in stone. Guys earn roles on the practice field.”
But for third-round offensive lineman Keagen Trost, his role on the Rams already appears to be in an important place of depth.
Read more New aircraft carrier heads toward Mideast after reports of issues on long-deployed USS Lincoln
Playing often at both tackle spots during training camp, the 6-foot-4, 311-pound lineman out of Missouri has impressed Stafford with his competitiveness. He could earn an early crop of regular-season game time depending on whether offensive tackle Alaric Jackson is suspended following the league’s investigation into an arrest for alleged domestic violence in June.
“You want guys to go look like they belong,” Stafford said of Trost on Tuesday. “He’s had his opportunities to be in there with the ones, the twos, right side, left side. (He) never really blinks, just goes in there and plays ball.”
Veteran offensive lineman Kevin Dotson, one of the stalwarts of the offensive line group, has been left with a solid early impression of Trost, from OTAs into the early days of training camp.
“He takes coaching well,” Dotson said of Trost on July 28. “He hasn’t truly opened up yet, but that’s to be expected of a rookie. He’s not afraid to get into the situation. … He’s not afraid to go against anybody, so that’s I think that’s the number one thing you need as a rookie.”
Trost, 25, told the Southern California News Group earlier this week that he’s been learning from Jackson and tackle David Quessenberry as he adjusts to the new blocks and angles the coaching staff is teaching him.
“I’m really just learning like what it’s supposed to look like,” Trost said. “(My teammates) are always coaching me up. Whenever it’s my reps, sometimes (offensive line coach Ryan Wendell) will ask them, ‘Hey, coach up Keagen here, to give them a chance to see how they see it.’”
Against the Cowboys in the joint practice, Trost split time between the starting and backup units at left and right tackle. That type of flexibility is a source of pride for Trost.
“I’m just trying to grow and be the best that I can be on both sides and try to be valuable by being able to go in at different spots,” Trost said. “It’s been my goal to improve on both sides and be the best that I can be so that when comes the time when I’m called to go out there, I’m ready to go.”
Read more Sick of high gas prices? Ethanol blend fuel is lower-priced, but there’s a catch