Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is doing some truly insane stuff through the first two weeks of the season. Back to back weeks with at least 10 catches and at least 100 receiving yards for the fifth round pick out of BYU. But, yesterday’s barn-burner against the 49ers saw him haul in 15 catches, the most by a rookie in a single game in NFL history. Truly amazing.
Rams coach Sean McVay after Puka Nacua's 15-catch, 147-yard day — his NFL-record setting second-straight 100-yard receiving game as a rookie:
— Sean Walker (@ActuallyDSW) September 17, 2023
“He's a stud. The game makes sense to him physically and mentally.”pic.twitter.com/A81oFZqpNi
Now…those of you reading this post who might’ve also kept up with my coverage of the 2023 NFL Draft, I promise you…no, I’m not here this morning to go ahead and take some victory lap. Nacua was on my “Hidden Gems” list, and I was a huge fan of the guy after watching his tape against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Again, I’m not here this morning to make this man’s success about me, even though, yes, it does appear that I was right, and you all should have listened to me. I just want to celebrate his accomplishments (that I completely and totally saw coming).
Via NFL press release:
Los Angeles Rams rookie wide receiver PUKA NACUA, a fifth-round pick from BYU, had 15 receptions for 147 yards on Sunday, the most receptions in a single game by a rookie in NFL history.
Nacua, who had 10 receptions for 119 yards in Week 1, is the first player in NFL history with at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in each of his first two career games.
Nacua is the fifth player in NFL history with at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in each of his team’s first two games of a season, joining MILES AUSTIN (2010), Pro Football Hall of Famer ISAAC BRUCE (1998), COOPER KUPP (2022) and ANDRE RISON (1994).
Nacua has 25 receptions in his first two career games and surpassed EARL COOPER (19 receptions in 1980) for the most receptions ever by a player in his first two career games.
Nacua is the third player in NFL history with at least 25 receptions in his team’s first two games of a season, joining MICHAEL THOMAS (28 receptions in 2018) and ANDRE RISON (26 in 1994).
Nacua is the fourth player in NFL history with at least 100 receiving yards in each of his first two career games, joining WILL FULLER (2016), DESEAN JACKSON (2008) and DON LOONEY (1940).
That is some rarefied air right that. Again, I’m not taking a victory lap here. I don’t mean to keep bringing me up, but it just keeps happening by coincidence. I am going to go ahead and share my evaluation of Nacua from back in the spring:
Put on the Arkansas tape and lust over this scrappy wide receiver prospect. Nacua is a HARD runner. He’s a gadgety guy that BYU tried to get the ball to in creative ways. Good jet sweep guy. He’s underrated as a contested catch guy – he just plays with that attitude that he’s going to drag you down into a knife fight in the mud. He’s a crisp route runner that makes good, sudden cuts. Not a separator, but gets open through leverage and cutting ability.
Wow – good for Puka Nacua, and good for any draft analyst that believed in him (not just me because I’m not making this about me).
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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