The Aporia · Aaron Donald out, Puka Nacua returns for Rams' game against Eagles on Sunday

Aaron Donald out, Puka Nacua returns for Rams' game against Eagles on Sunday

Read the original at Toronto Star ↗

Cite

APA MLA Chicago

Greenspan, D. (2026, October 2). Aaron Donald out, Puka Nacua returns for Rams' game against Eagles on Sunday. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/aaron-donald-out-puka-nacua-returns-for-rams-game-against-eagles-on-sunday/article_e96929ec-71d9-5c54-8628-6893dfb23263.html

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

Aaron Donald will not play for the Los Angeles Rams against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday due to a sore back. Meanwhile, defensive player Puka Nacua is set to return after missing two games with hip and groin injuries. Coach Sean McVay said they are being cautious with Donald's health as he recently ended a two-season retirement. The team also ruled out tight end Terrance Ferguson and cornerback Jaylen Watson due to injury, while others like Colby Parkinson and Josaiah Stewart remain questionable for the game.

Written by AI on 2026-10-03, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Aaron Donald, the three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year for the Los Angeles Rams, will miss Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles due to back soreness. The 35-year-old defensive tackle did not participate in practice throughout the week and was officially ruled out by head coach Sean McVay on Friday. Donald had returned from a two-season retirement just two games ago, making this setback particularly frustrating as his body adjusts to NFL play again. Despite feeling ready to play through the injury, McVay emphasized the team's responsibility to protect Donald from overexertion. The Rams will also welcome back wide receiver Puka Nacua, who missed two games with a hip and groin injury but is expected to return against the Eagles.

Written for “Aaron Donald Injured Rams Eagles Game” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 6% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

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How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

1 of 17 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

64/100

Toronto Star's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Analyzed 2026-10-03 · how these are computed

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Publisher

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Who wrote this

Dan Greenspan

25 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks will be called up from the practice squad in Landman’s absence.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · WR Puka Nacua and CB Trent McDuffie are questionable vs. Raiders as Rams' injuries pile up

🔮 And if the problem is solely about scheme, there would be limited options to replace McDaniel, who was hired in January.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Jim Harbaugh looking for answers in all aspects of the Chargers' struggling offense

🔮 Turning to Ethan as the kicker would necessitate additional changes to the operation since he’s the regular holder.

2026-10-18 · assertive framing · Rams kicker Blake Grupe injures knee vs. Cardinals in first game with new team

🔮 At 0-5 and with no signs of help on the way, it doesn’t look like things will be getting easier for Herbert any time soon.

2026-10-12 · assertive framing · Justin Herbert seems no longer able to elevate Chargers' inept and injured offense

🔮 Allen is decidedly less enjoyable to try to defend, as the other side of the ball for the Rams (2-2) will have to do in their showdown with the Bills (3-1) on Monday night.

2026-10-09 · assertive framing · Bills' 'one-of-a-kind' Josh Allen offers challenge for Rams' defensive progress on Monday night

🔮 He also showed his typical toughness in run blocking, helping pave the way for another strong performance by running back Kyren Williams as he scored twice in the final four minutes to give Los Angeles a potentially season-salvaging victory.

2026-10-05 · assertive framing · Puka Nacua shows he's still the catalyst of the Rams' offense in comeback win after injury absence

🔮 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Donald will miss the Rams’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday because of a sore back, while Puka Nacua will return after missing two games because of a hip and groin injury.

2026-10-02 · assertive framing · Aaron Donald out, Puka Nacua returns for Rams' game against Eagles on Sunday

🔮 After coach Sean McVay put a heightened emphasis on addressing those issues, including bringing in a new special teams coordinator, upgrading personnel and devoting more time to the unit, the progress of that newfound commitment will be tested in a return visit to eastern Pennsylvania on Sunday.

2026-10-02 · assertive framing · Rams' special teams progress will be tested in Philly after Eagles blocked 2 field goals last year

🔮 McVay expressed optimism Nacua could return this week after missing two games because of a hip and groin injury.

2026-09-29 · assertive framing · Injuries are piling up for the slow-starting Rams, but Puka Nacua could return this week

🔮 The Chargers had plenty of opportunities to come through with a potentially season-saving win at the Bills on Sunday and still couldn’t take advantage.

2026-09-28 · assertive framing · The Chargers are in serious trouble after failing to capitalize on opportunities against Bills

Also by Dan Greenspan

WR Puka Nacua and CB Trent McDuffie are questionable vs. Raiders as Rams' injuries pile up

2026-10-23 · Toronto Star

Jim Harbaugh looking for answers in all aspects of the Chargers' struggling offense

2026-10-19 · Toronto Star

Super Bowl favorite Rams' latest loss has Sean McVay searching for ways 'not to beat ourselves'

2026-10-19 · Toronto Star

Rams kicker Blake Grupe injures knee vs. Cardinals in first game with new team

2026-10-18 · Toronto Star

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 25 articles by Dan Greenspan →

Topics

49ers Giants LOS ANGELES Rams the Philadelphia Eagles

Subjects

McVay PERSON · 4× Rams ORG · 4× Donald PERSON · 3× Nacua PERSON · 2× Smith PERSON · 2× Aaron Donald PERSON · 1× LOS ANGELES GPE · 1× Puka Nacua PERSON · 1× Sean McVay PERSON · 1× the Philadelphia Eagles ORG · 1×

Narrative

The decision to move on from Smith came one day after special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone was critical of his performance while also ruling out replacing the third-year wide receiver from Florida A&M. Smith’s status had been in question since he muffed a punt leading to a Seattle touchdown in the Seahawks’ 31-27 win over the Rams in the NFC championship last season.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-03

2026-10-03 · Toronto Star

Aaron Donald out, Puka Nacua returns for Rams' game against Eagles on Sunday · assertive framing

Claims (17 extracted, 1 hedged)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Donald will miss the Rams’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday because of a sore back, while Puka Nacua will return after missing two games because of a hip and groin injury. asserted

Nacua → miss → injury

Donald did not practice all week and coach Sean McVay officially ruled him out Friday. asserted

McVay → practice → him

A three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year, Donald has four tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit in two games after ending his two-season retirement. asserted

Donald → have → retirement

McVay said the Rams (1-2) were erring on the side of caution with Donald and that the 35-year-old defensive tackle probably could have played through the injury if needed. uncertain

tackle → say → injury

“We have to protect him from him,” McVay said. asserted

McVay → have → him

“This guy will do everything (to play) and that much more.” asserted

guy → do → everything

Nacua had five receptions for 74 yards in the season opener against the 49ers but missed games versus the Giants and Broncos after hurting himself in practice on Sept. 17. asserted

Nacua → have → Sept.

“Just in some of the change of direction stuff, some of the stuff in my hip area just was not feeling great,” Nacua said. asserted

Nacua → feel → area

“It was causing me some pain and some restriction in some of my movements.” asserted

It → cause → movements

The Rams also ruled out tight end Terrance Ferguson (ankle) and cornerback Jaylen Watson (shoulder), while tight end Colby Parkinson (knee/shoulder) and outside linebacker Josaiah Stewart (groin) is questionable. asserted

Parkinson → rule → Ferguson

McVay also said wide receiver Alex Bachman will likely be called up off the practice squad to contribute on special teams after return specialist Xavier Smith was waived on Friday. asserted

Smith → say → Friday

he → move → championship

“We just need better production out of that position,” McVay said. asserted

McVay → need → position

“That’s exclusively what it was.” asserted

it → ’ → ?

“We weren’t thinking about it when (Ventrone) talked to you guys yesterday. asserted

Ventrone → think → guys

And as you get a chance to kind of take a step back, evaluate the totality of our group — what’s the best way to try to be able to put together all three phases? asserted

way → get → phases

Did feel like that was in the best interest of the group, and that was kind of what went into it.” asserted

what → feel → it