The Los Angeles Rams may have lost to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but they found a new star in rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua. With All-Pro Cooper Kupp absent, questions loomed over how the Rams would kick off the season. However, Nacua not only stepped into Kupp’s shoes but thrived in his absence.
Nacua, drafted in the fifth round out of BYU, now as a rookie shattered the NFL single-game record for most receptions. Therefore, Pat McAfee, a football pandit, shares his thoughts on the record-breaking wide receiver Puka Nacua after Nacua made history in the NFL.
Pat McAfee in awe of Puka Nacua’s NFL feats
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Nacua has been filling in for All-Pro Cooper Kupp, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Against the 49ers, the rookie scored 15 catches for 147 yards. He also scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, giving the Rams an early 14-0 lead. Nacua is on fire in his first two games as a Ram, snagged 25 balls for 266 yards, the third-highest mark in NFL history for a player in the first two games of a season.
Puka Nacua is ALWAYS OPEN..
He has been a SHINING STAR early in this NFL season #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/mYySvI7Nz6
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 18, 2023
Nacua’s performance has earned him praise from former players and analysts, such as Pat McAfee, who called him “a shining star” and “always open” on his show. Rams head coach Sean McVay also expressed his admiration for Nacua, saying he is “being smart” with him and that he has “a bright future” in the NFL. In his first two games, Nacua did something no rookie had done before. He caught over ten passes and gained more than 100 yards in each game.
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Here’s more about WR Puka Nacua!
The star is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound, who hails from Provo, Utah, where Puka Nacua dominated the high school scene. He took his talents to BYU for the 2020 season and lit up the scoreboard with 40 grabs for 805 yards and six TDs in just eight games. Nacua comes from a football family, with two older bros who also play the game. Samson, a wideout who had a cup of coffee with the Colts, and Kai, a safety who suits up for the Panthers of the USFL.
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However, Nacua is on fire in his first two games as a Ram, and he’s not slowing down anytime soon. He’s facing the Bengals in Week 3, and he’s ready to torch their secondary. He’s a frontrunner for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and a fantasy football stud. Nacua is not just filling in for Kupp – he’s making his own name in the NFL.
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