BYU Professional Athletes

The Nacua Problem

Puka Nacua was supposed to be spending the 2026 season making the case for a life-changing second contract. Instead, the BYU product is watching from the sideline, his rookie deal ticking down while a hip injury keeps him off the field for the Los Angeles Rams.

Nacua was ruled out for Week 2 against the Giants and listed as doubtful for Week 3 against the Broncos — the Rams ultimately announcing he would not suit up in Denver either, marking at least two consecutive missed games. Head coach Sean McVay has offered cautious optimism about a potential Week 4 return against Philadelphia, but the Eagles, who face the Bears in Week 3, were already receiving injury updates on Nacua as they prepared their game plan for the Rams — a sign that Los Angeles cannot hide his absence from anyone.

The on-field cost has been real. In Week 2, without Nacua, the Rams leaned heavily on newly acquired veteran Davante Adams, who combined with Matthew Stafford for a historic performance in a blowout win over the Giants. The offense survived — even thrived — but the longer Nacua sits, the more the narrative shifts from "when he comes back" to "what does this mean for his future."

That question has already drawn outside scrutiny. Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho publicly warned that Nacua is actively hurting his contract case by missing time in a walk year, the precise stretch of games where a player needs to be seen, productive, and indispensable. The Rams, meanwhile, have been exploring contingency options at receiver and leaning on tight end Terrance Ferguson to absorb additional targets in the short term. A potential trade for a pass-catcher has also surfaced in reports, underscoring how seriously the front office is taking the void.

Nacua did appear in a workout video during the week, drawing attention as a signal that he's pushing to return — but the Rams have been measured in their public timeline, and the hip/groin nature of the injury has complicated practice participation.

Around the BYU Alumni Map

While Nacua's situation dominated the headlines, a handful of other Cougars logged quiet contributions across the league during the week.

Chris Brooks continued to find work in the Green Bay backfield, adding 11 rushing yards and a 15-yard reception in the Packers' narrow 20-17 win over the Jets in Week 2, then chipping in a reception for four yards in a Thursday loss to Atlanta in Week 3. Tyler Allgeier carried the ball for 10 yards and caught two passes for nine more in Arizona's Week 2 loss to Seattle — modest production for a Cardinals team that was outclassed 31-7.

Fred Warner played in San Francisco's dominant 35-13 win over Miami, a result that keeps the 49ers rolling — though no individual stat line was available for the All-Pro linebacker. Kyle Van Noy was in uniform for Minnesota's 9-3 defensive grind over Chicago, and Ryan Rehkow handled punting duties as Cincinnati topped Houston 20-6.

The week belonged, for better or worse, entirely to Nacua's absence. If he returns healthy for the Eagles game, the contract-year clock can restart in earnest. If not, the questions will only grow louder.

Two BYU Cougars Dominate the NFL Headlines in Week 2

The biggest stories out of Provo's NFL alumni community this week have nothing to do with touchdowns — they're about milestones and medical tents.

Fred Warner Rewrites the 49ers Record Books

Fred Warner did something in Week 1 that no San Francisco 49ers linebacker had ever done before. Recording 11 tackles and a forced fumble in a dominant 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Warner surpassed Patrick Willis to become the franchise's all-time total tackles leader. Let that sink in: Warner now owns a record that once belonged to a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Willis, for his part, didn't sulk. The 49ers legend offered a full-throated endorsement, making clear the record is in worthy hands. Warner's own teammates are equally effusive — linebacker Luke Gifford opened up this week about what separates the BYU product from the rest of the linebacker class in the NFL.

The milestone is even more remarkable given context: Warner missed significant time last season with a severe right ankle fracture. Now he's back, breaking records alongside a reunited Dre Greenlaw, and the 49ers' defense looks every bit as dangerous as it did during their Super Bowl runs. BYU linebackers don't come along like this often. Warner is quietly building one of the great careers in franchise history.

Puka Nacua's Availability in Doubt for Monday Night

While Warner was celebrating in Australia, his fellow Cougar Puka Nacua was adding his name to the injury report under far less celebratory circumstances. The Rams' star wideout missed practice Friday with a hip injury and did not practice Saturday either, with head coach Sean McVay officially listing him as questionable for Monday Night Football against the visiting New York Giants.

The timing is brutal. Los Angeles is already stinging from that Week 1 blowout loss to San Francisco, and the Giants game represents a prime bounce-back opportunity. Nacua — whose emergence as one of the league's most productive young receivers makes him central to everything the Rams want to do offensively — is now a genuine game-time decision. McVay and the organization are preparing contingencies, but there's no clean replacement for what Nacua brings to that offense.

Around the Rest of the BYU NFL Family

Elsewhere, Tyler Allgeier had a solid Week 1 showing for the Cardinals, rushing for 61 yards and adding two receptions for nine more in a 26-14 win over the Chargers. Chris Brooks picked up 29 rushing yards for the Packers in their loss to the Vikings — a game that also featured Kyle Van Noy, who was elevated from Minnesota's practice squad for the opener. Van Noy, 35, has been blunt about where he is in his career, but he's still logging NFL snaps, which is a story in itself.

The Warner record will be talked about in San Francisco for years. The Nacua injury will be resolved by Tuesday morning. Both are worth watching closely as the 2026 season takes shape.

The NFL's first-ever game in the Asia-Pacific region doubled as a showcase for BYU alumni — with Puka Nacua and Fred Warner on opposite sidelines and opposite ends of the scoreboard in San Francisco's 27-7 blowout of the Los Angeles Rams at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday night.

Fred Warner: Dominant Return

An 11-month absence from the game did nothing to dull Warner's edge. The 49ers linebacker recorded 11 tackles and a forced fumble in the blowout, anchoring a San Francisco defense that held the Rams scoreless in the second half. After the final whistle, Warner was anything but understated — posting a two-word message on social media and later taking a pointed jab at Rams head coach Sean McVay, who had said Los Angeles was "well rested" heading into the game. Warner's Instagram response suggested he found that claim amusing.

Warner also heaped praise on quarterback Brock Purdy after the win, calling him the NFL's best quarterback. He told reporters the Rams simply "withered away" as the game progressed — a sentiment that was hard to argue with given San Francisco's 17-0 second-half domination.

Puka Nacua: On the Field, and Opening Up

Nacua caught 5 passes for 74 yards in the loss — a respectable outing, though the Rams' offensive structure raised early-season concerns. According to Sports Illustrated analysis highlighted by Heavy Sports, Los Angeles showed a pronounced personnel imbalance when leaning on a third wide receiver, a split that could become a liability as defenses adjust.

But Nacua's performance on the field was only part of the story this week. In a Netflix feature aired before the game, Nacua gave his most candid account yet of a turbulent offseason, revealing that alcohol had become a way he tried to cope with the pressure that accompanied his rapid rise to NFL stardom. He called it one of the "darkest times of my life." Nacua has since commenced steps toward compliance with an NFL diversion program, and he was not placed on the league's paid leave list heading into Week 1.

Nacua also addressed his contract situation directly, reaffirming his desire for a long-term future with the Rams despite the off-field uncertainty that has surrounded him this offseason.

Kyle Van Noy: On the Sideline in Minnesota

Not every BYU alumnus made it onto the field in Week 1. Kyle Van Noy, who signed with the Minnesota Vikings shortly before the season, was listed as questionable heading into their matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings gave a blunt injury update on his availability, and expectations were tempered for his debut given the late signing timeline. Van Noy has history with defensive coordinator Brian Flores from their time together in New England and Miami, which made the pairing a natural fit — but whether he was able to suit up remained uncertain entering game week.

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The Melbourne opener was the marquee moment of BYU's NFL week, with two former Cougars commanding the spotlight from very different vantage points. Warner's dominant performance and Nacua's raw public honesty gave the game a storyline that extended well beyond the final score.

Three BYU products commanded NFL attention the week of August 30, with Kyle Van Noy landing a new home, Puka Nacua's season hanging in suspension limbo, and Taysom Hill's football future suddenly uncertain.

Van Noy Reunites With Flores in Minnesota

The biggest BYU alumni move of the week was Van Noy's agreement with the Minnesota Vikings, where he joins a familiar face: defensive coordinator Brian Flores, with whom the veteran edge rusher won two Super Bowl championships in New England. After three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Van Noy arrives in Minneapolis on a practice squad deal — but Vikings GM Nolan Teasley made clear the team views him as a premium addition at a premium position.

"Veteran presence at a premium position" is how Teasley framed it, and the signing carries ripple effects beyond Van Noy himself. Per Sports Illustrated, second-year pass rusher Dallas Turner may actually be the deal's biggest under-the-radar beneficiary, with Van Noy's experience potentially unlocking more favorable matchups for the younger edge defender.

The signing hasn't been without noise. Former Chargers player Breiden Fehoko lit into Van Noy publicly after comments the linebacker made about Justin Herbert, unloading in a pair of social media tirades. Van Noy, for his part, broke his silence on the Vikings move with characteristic confidence. Drama aside, he's exactly the kind of wily veteran Flores covets.

Nacua Suspension Watch Clouds Rams' Title Hopes

In Los Angeles, the status of Puka Nacua remains the most consequential question mark on the Rams' roster. Nacua is under NFL review for offseason conduct incidents, with a suspension still a live possibility heading into Week 1. CBS Sports has called it a genuine mystery — one with major implications for L.A.'s championship ambitions.

There's cautious optimism in the Rams building. Head coach Sean McVay delivered what was described as a "really good" injury update on Nacua as the team prepares for its season-opening game in Australia, and an insider report suggested the Rams may be able to "breathe a major sigh of relief" regarding the suspension outlook. Still, nothing has been resolved, and the league has yet to announce a decision.

The financial stakes compound the urgency. A former agent publicly labeled Nacua a "prime" contract extension candidate with a projected deal in the $135 million range — but that conversation gets complicated fast if the NFL drops a suspension before the Rams even kick off the season.

Hill's Saints Chapter Ends, Next One Unknown

Meanwhile, in New Orleans, Taysom Hill — one of the most uniquely categorized players in NFL history, with a Football Reference page listing him as "QB-TE-WR" — finds himself unsigned after the Saints moved on this offseason. The reasons are layered: age, cap considerations, and New Orleans' broader roster reset all factor in. Hill spent his entire career with the Saints and built a fanbase around his swiss-army-knife role, but no team has stepped forward with an offer.

The Saints' late-August roster cuts added more BYU names to the transaction wire: cornerback Michael Davis was among the veterans released as New Orleans trimmed to 53.

One More Move to Track

Kedon Slovis had a roller-coaster week of his own. The BYU quarterback was waived by the Cardinals, then quickly claimed a lifeline — Green Bay signed him to the Packers' practice squad as the third quarterback, replacing Kyle McCord. Slovis called it a "crazy" week. For a backup QB scratching for roster footing, landing with a contender beats the alternative.

The Cougars' NFL footprint remains wide. Whether it's Van Noy chasing another ring, Nacua waiting on a league ruling, or Hill searching for one last chapter, BYU alumni are anything but quiet heading into 2026.