Rams rookie Puka Nacua has been putting in a star effort

When the Los Angeles Rams announced that Cooper Kupp would begin the season on injured reserve, that was alleged to significantly hinder their offense. He was targeted 191 times during his first-team All-Pro 2021 campaign. In 2022, Kupp had 98 targets in only nine games. In his place has stepped rookie fifth-round pick Puka Nacua. He has been targeted 35 times in two games, and hauled in 25 receptions.

Nacua became the primary player in NFL history to tally at the least 10 receptions for 100 yards in each of his first two games. His 15-catch, 147 yards performance on Sunday broke the rookie record for receptions in one game. The Rams could have lost 30-23 to the San Francisco 49ers, but Nacua proved in that game that he’s here to remain as a featured option in the Rams offense.

The Rams chosen Nacua out of BYU in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. They’ve been impressed by the young man’s performance throughout the offseason. His poise and playmaking has allowed Matt Stafford to feel wheel and deal even together with his top pass sidelined for at the least 4 weeks.

Nacua began his profession at Washington. In his second yr with that program, the COVID 2020 season in which the Huskies played only 4 games, he averaged 16.8 yards per catch. He decided to transfer to BYU in 2021 together with his brother Samson. His first yr in Provo, Nacua averaged 18.7 yards per reception, hauled in six touchdowns, and likewise ran for 148 yards. As a senior, he had a Deebo Samuel style of season rushing for 209 yards and five touchdowns.

He went low in the draft due to concerns about his speed and quickness, although a few of his best performances at BYU were against Power 5 opponents. In a game against Arkansas last season, Nacua caught 8 passes for 147 yards, and a touchdown, and likewise reached the top zone twice on the bottom.

The remainder of the NFL’s loss has been quite the gain for the Rams. Through two weeks they’ve found a player who — despite his youth — has been capable of click with Stafford and help the Rams tread water at 1-1 through two games. Though the 49ers are a buzzsaw, the Rams were capable of sustain with them for 3 quarters. If not for 2 second-half interceptions — one among which went straight through the hands of a wide open Kyren Williams — they may have pulled off a massive upset.

In the event that they had knocked off the mighty 49ers a major reason why would have been Nakua. This fifth-round draft pick was targeted 20 times in his second NFL game by a veteran quarterback with a Super Bowl ring.

The longer term is brilliant for Nakua, and for the Rams whose “F them picks” approach to the NFL Draft finally caught up with them last season — together with injuries to Stafford, Kupp, and Aaron Donald. Once they add Kupp back to this offense, the Rams might once more have one of the crucial dynamic passing attacks in your complete NFL.

In fact once Kupp returns he might be the point of interest of the offense, and get the lionshare of the targets. Nevertheless, the pass-catching threat who has caught 25 passes in two games, and the eye of your complete NFL, has the Rams already considering playoffs one yr after going 5-12.

I suppose Nakua is quick enough for the NFL in spite of everything.