It seems to be like Puka Nacua, the Los Angeles Rams budding star rookie, didn’t get fortunate in Week 1 in spite of everything.
Nacua, a fifth-round select of BYU by the Rams this previous April, shocked the NFL world final week when he had 10 catches for 119 yards in Los Angeles’ win over the Seattle Seahawks. However Nacua adopted it up with an excellent higher efficiency that had NFL historical past tied to it.
Nacua hauled in 15 of his 20 targets from Stafford towards the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, totaling 147 yards. These 15 receptions are probably the most by a rookie in a single recreation in NFL historical past.
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Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams and Puka Nacua hug earlier than the sport towards the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Subject on September 10, 2023, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner/Getty Photographs)
The document, which was held by Washington’s Roy Helu, New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley and Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris collectively, was damaged when Nacua hauled in a 17-yard catch late within the fourth quarter.
Nacua can be the primary rookie to have double-digit receptions in every of his first two NFL video games.
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And that’s not all. Nacua’s 25 receptions on the yr is a brand new league document for a rookie in his first two video games. 49ers legend Earl Cooper had the document at 19 in 1980.
The Rams couldn’t seize one other victory, although, regardless of Nacua’s efforts on offense. The 49ers had been capable of pressure essential turnovers to finally come away with a 30-23 win to maneuver to 2-0, whereas the Rams fell to 1-1 within the early season.
Puka Nacua #17 of the Los Angeles Rams is tackled by Deommodore Lenoir #2 of the San Francisco 49ers throughout the third quarter at SoFi Stadium on September 17, 2023, in Inglewood, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)
Nacua’s emergence as Stafford’s prime possibility comes as Cooper Kupp, the 2021 Offensive Participant of the Yr because the Rams’ prime receiver, is on injured reserve with a hamstring damage. Kupp’s absence left many questions for a way the Rams would begin the season.
Nacua is just not solely filling that absence – he’s thriving due to it.
Head coach Sean McVay clearly likes what Nacua has delivered to his receiving corps. And realizing his offensive thoughts, he’ll you’ll want to get each Nacua and Kupp concerned when the latter returns into the fold.
Los Angeles Rams vast receiver Puka Nacua (17) runs after a catch throughout the recreation towards the San Francisco 49ers on September 17, 2023, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
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We’ll see what Nacua can do in his third NFL recreation subsequent week when the Rams journey to Cincinnati to tackle the Bengals on “Monday Evening Soccer.”
Scott Thompson is a sports activities author for Fox Information Digital.
