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Sarah Barshop, ESPN writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Late in the second quarter Sunday afternoon, Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone, one that NFL Next Gen Stats gave a probability 13.5% completion rate.
But after the catch, Nacua’s first touchdown of the season and one that gave the Rams the lead in an eventual 28-22 victory over the New England Patriots, Nacua fell on the ball and gasped. He went to the injury tent after vomiting and was evaluated for a concussion, coach Sean McVay said, but was cleared to return to the game.
On that play, Nacua once again demonstrated what the Rams have known since last season: the young receiver’s physical play is one of the things that makes him so good, but it can also lead to worrying moments.
Nacua, who played in all 17 games last season when he set records for most receptions and receiving yards by a rookie in NFL history, injured his right knee during training camp. The injury was considered minor and he returned for the Rams’ season opener against the Detroit Lions. Nacua left that game after aggravating the injury and missed five games on injured reserve.
On Sunday against the Patriots, Nacua finished with seven receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. It was his first touchdown of the season and his most receiving yards in a game this season, his fourth game from injured reserve.
A big part of the reason Nacua was on the field so often as a rookie was because of his ability to contribute to the running game. Run blocking has always been a staple in McVay’s offense.
“If you want to be on the field, you have to be willing to block,” Kupp said. “And that’s something that [the Rams] “We are proud.”
Nacua’s physicality in the running game has not gone unnoticed, neither by his teammates nor by the opposition. In the week leading up to the Rams’ Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver called Nacua and Kupp “two of the toughest receivers” in the NFL, citing what they do as blockers.
When Nacua came to Los Angeles in 2023 as a fifth-round pick, the Rams even had to take him out of his run-blocking instincts. And Nacua’s passion for that part of the game showed that Kupp “was ready to go from the beginning.”
“We had a problem with him because he kept blocking linebackers when you’re not supposed to block linebackers,” Kupp said. You’d rather pull someone away and say, ‘Hey, look, someone’s already heading to the linebacker.’ You can lock the safety or lock the corner.
“Puka definitely had the will to go in and do what needs to be done. That’s what you need at the beginning. If you’re willing to do it, then the coaches can teach you how to do the rest.”
After Nacua was ejected in the Rams’ Week 9 win at Seattle after throwing a punch, Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said Nacua “has a target on his back” due to his athleticism. to play
“That’s the truth in terms of when you put the tape on, in terms of his physicality and the caliber of player he is,” LaFleur said. “It’s a sign of respect that people go after him, chirp at him and all that. It’s a good lesson for him and he won’t make that mistake again.”
Nacua said that since his NFL debut last season, he has “realized that not everyone wants to play football with the same physique as me.”
“You say, ‘maybe he was taking advantage of his opportunity,’ but I feel like it’s also a reminder to me that my goal is to go out there and do it physically every play,” Nacua said. “It’s also a nice, subtle reminder to me that every play is someone’s chance to get or get a hit. I want to be the one to do it for sure.”
And while the Rams have made it clear they love how hard Nacua plays, Kupp had to pause when he saw Nacua’s touchdown catch from the other line.
“I saw him hit the ground and bounce a couple of times and I thought, oh, I really hoped it was just the air coming out of his lungs,” Kupp said. “But it will be fine. We are working on landing softer.”
