March 14, 2026, 11:48 a.m. PT
Puka Nacua will have a new challenger at cornerback when the Los Angeles Rams take the field in training camp and practice this year. It will also be a familiar one.
Trent McDuffie, who the Rams acquired in a trade with the Chiefs this offseason, was teammates with Nacua at Washington for two years in 2019 and 2020. Now, the two are reunited in Los Angeles, something they’re both excited about.
In fact, McDuffie said Nacua was the first person who called him after the trade news broke, screaming at the top of his lungs on the phone.
The two of them will square off frequently in practice when the Rams put their first-team offense against the starting defense, which will certainly be fun to watch.
McDuffie warned Nacua that he’d better be ready for practice because he’s expecting some fierce battles.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
“I told him he better be ready for practice because that’s going to be some of the best competition we’re going to have, is one-on-ones, me and Puka, just like we did in college,” McDuffie said on ESPNLA radio. “I mean, we were going against each other all day, every day. I’m sure he’s going to win some, but I’m definitely going to go out there and win some, too.”
McDuffie said he knew Nacua was going to do big things from the first time he saw him on the practice field at Washington.
“Freshman year, we were in the dorms together, we were practicing together. I knew he was going to do something great,” McDuffie said.
Six years since their last season as teammates, the two of them are back together again in L.A.