Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua and left tackle Alaric Jackson are expected to play in the team's Week 1 opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, despite ongoing legal situations for both players. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed Sunday that he anticipates the pair will be available, stating he had not “heard anything different” regarding their status when asked about them facing the Niners.
This news is significant for the Rams as they prepare for a tough matchup against the 49ers. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on August 30 that neither player would be placed on the commissioner exempt list, although both cases remain under the NFL’s review. Schefter also indicated that Nacua might avoid a suspension entirely.
The Week 1 contest will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, requiring a lengthy trip across the Pacific Ocean. Nonstop flights from both Los Angeles and San Francisco to Melbourne typically take around 16 hours, but the two California teams are adopting vastly different approaches to managing the travel and time difference.
The 49ers departed for Australia on September 2, giving themselves more than a week to acclimate to the 14-hour time difference. In contrast, the Rams have remained in Inglewood and plan to arrive in Melbourne the day before the game, leaving immediately afterward. McVay likened the team's arrival schedule to a “Friday evening” before a traditional Sunday game, noting, “Sleep through the night and then we’ll get there and we have kind of a rhythm.” Players and coaches will have lie-flat beds available on the flight to assist with rest during the approximately 15-hour journey.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford indicated the team is trying to keep things “as normal as we possibly can.” He referenced the Rams’ prior experience with international travel, having arrived in London the day before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars last October. That trip, which resulted in a 35-7 victory, followed a week spent on the East Coast, reducing both the flight length and time zone adjustment impact. Stafford noted that the London plan “felt like it worked out for us.” A team representative, Burger, emphasized the extensive preparations for the trip, stating they are “bringing everything. From the usual backup stuff we bring—helmets, pads, cleats—to different level spikes, to different types of jackets and cold-weather gear.”
The Rams enter the 2026 season with significant expectations after falling in the NFC Championship last season. The team has made substantial moves to bolster its roster around Matthew Stafford, including trading for Trent McDuffie to improve the secondary and Myles Garrett to boost the pass rush. These additions mean the Rams now feature the reigning NFL MVP and Defensive Player of the Year on the same roster, a first in league history. Adding to this formidable lineup, three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald has returned from a two-year retirement.
The roster moves have certainly drawn attention. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan described his reaction to Donald's return as “the exact opposite” of his retirement, which had prompted cheers. Shanahan stated he wasn't “crushed” because he had prepared for the possibility. Rams safety Quentin Lake remarked that other teams might view them as “the new Dodgers or something like that,” given their talent acquisition. With a roster stacked with such high-profile talent, the team is squarely focused on winning a Lombardi Trophy, and anything less will be considered a failure.
