ESPN reports that Rams head coach Sean McVay said wide receiver Puka Nacua does not have a hernia, but the organization will "err on the side of caution" with the injury. McVay emphasized that the team does not view the issue as any sort of long‑term threat to Nacua’s availability or health.

According to ESPN’s reporting, Nacua was listed with a hip injury on the injury report and did not play in Monday night’s game. McVay later clarified that the wide receiver was dealing with "a little bit of soreness" in his groin area rather than a more serious structural problem.

McVay offered a vivid description of the sensation, telling reporters, "When you're a skill player and you're really trying to hit high‑speed yards and really open up and you feel just ... it's like some of the things that can almost be like pre‑hernia is kind of what he's feeling." He added that the prudent approach is to let time heal the issue before returning to full activity.

The Rams did not hold a full practice on Wednesday, opting instead for a walk‑through during the short week. ESPN notes that the team estimated Nacua would not have participated had a regular practice been held, underscoring the cautious stance being taken.

Looking ahead, McVay said the Rams will evaluate whether Nacua can practice on Thursday. He also acknowledged that Nacua is "frustrated" with the current limitation, reflecting the player’s eagerness to rejoin the lineup.

Beyond immediate availability, McVay stressed the broader goal for Nacua’s recovery. "We all want him to be able to be out there," he said, "but we want him to be able to return to performance, not just be able to just kind of gut through it."

ESPN’s reporting concludes that, while Nacua’s Week 3 status remains uncertain, the Rams are not alarmed about any lasting repercussions. The plan remains to monitor his progress and allow sufficient time for the groin soreness to resolve before clearing him for game action.

This article synthesizes reporting from ESPN. Top story: "McVay says Nacua's injury not 'long-term' concern, but Rams being cautious" (ESPN).