Rams vs. Eagles preview: Nacua’s big, bold return at 2-1

Dustin Judge
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs for a touchdown ahead of the Rams vs. Eagles preview

The Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles both want to put a bad Week 3 behind them. Los Angeles (1-2) lost 30-26 to Denver, and Philadelphia (2-1) was beaten 27-7 by Chicago. This Rams vs. Eagles preview looks at the return of receiver Puka Nacua, a banged-up Eagles roster and the matchup that could decide Sunday’s game.

Rams vs. Eagles preview: game information

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 4, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. FOX will televise the game, according to an Associated Press preview on CBS Sports. Philadelphia leads the all-time series 26-20-1 and won the last meeting 33-26 on Sept. 21, 2025.

Rams vs. Eagles preview: is Puka Nacua ready to return?

Rams coach Sean McVay said Nacua is expected to play after missing two games with a hip and groin injury, according to NFL.com. Nacua was limited in practice Wednesday. Quarterback Matthew Stafford called him “one of the best receivers in the league.”

Davante Adams carried the passing game while Nacua was out. Over the last two weeks Adams caught 15 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns, including seven catches for 137 yards against Denver. He has nine catches of 15 or more yards, tied for the most in the NFL, the AP reported. For more on the Rams’ recent play, see our story on McVay on the NFL admitting a late-game penalty call was incorrect.

On defense, safety Quentin Lake has seven pass breakups, tied for the NFL lead, according to the AP.

What went wrong for the Eagles against Chicago?

Quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has lost only 16 games as a starter since 2022, left the loss in Chicago with a blunt question. “Who are we?” he said. He added: “I don’t really care how we look. I don’t care who we are. I want to be winners.”

Philadelphia managed only 248 total yards against the Bears, with 62 coming in the second half. The Eagles’ defense did not record a sack against Chicago and has three on the season with no forced turnovers. Even so, it ranks 13th in yards allowed and 16th in points allowed, the AP reported. See also our coverage of Sirianni embracing sky-high expectations and Hurts breaking his silence on the A.J. Brown trade.

Rams vs. Eagles preview: key matchup

The matchup to watch is Stafford and Adams against a Philadelphia defense that has struggled to create pressure or takeaways. Stafford is 4-4 against the Eagles in his career with 16 touchdown passes and two interceptions. With Nacua back, the Rams vs. Eagles preview favors the team that can protect its quarterback and finish drives.

Injuries to watch

The injury report could shape this Rams vs. Eagles preview more than any other factor. For the Eagles, linebacker Zack Baun (concussion), receiver Hollywood Brown (ankle), tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) and receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) did not practice, according to the Eagles’ injury report. For the Rams, cornerback Jaylen Watson and tight end Terrance Ferguson are expected to be out.

Tight end Zach Ertz made his first catch for the Eagles since 2021 last week and needs nine more to tie Harold Carmichael’s franchise record, the AP reported.

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.