Rams' Puka Nacua: Posts 181 rec yards in playoff loss
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Nacua caught nine of 10 targets for 181 yards and a touchdown while rushing once for minus-2 yards in Sunday's 24-23 wild-card round loss to the Lions.
Nacua delivered a stellar performance in his playoff debut after a record-setting rookie season, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. The game's pivotal play was an incomplete pass to Nacua, though, as a Detroit defender grabbed his jersey on a third-down target from Matthew Stafford in the final minutes. A penalty would have set the Rams up in field-goal range, but the missed call led to a punt, and Detroit proceeded to run out the final 4:07, putting an end to Nacua's magical rookie season. After racking up 105 catches, 1,486 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the regular season, Nacua has gone from an unheralded fifth-round NFL Draft pick in 2023 to one of the league's most coveted targets in fantasy drafts heading into the 2024 season.
Nacua corralled all four of his targets for 41 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-20 win over the 49ers.
Nacua wasn't expected to do much from a fantasy perspective Sunday after the Rams announced that they would be removing the breakout star from the contest once he gained 29 yards to set the new rookie all-time record for receiving yards in a single season. The BYU product came one yard shy of Bill Groman's previous mark of 1,473 yards set in 1960 when he caught a 19-yard touchdown to cap off Los Angeles' opening drive Sunday. Nacua didn't see another target until the start of the third quarter, when he notched a pair of short receptions to clinch two NFL rookie records by also passing Jaylen Waddle's 104 receptions set in 2021. Nacua's final rookie line of 105/1,486/6 is more than the Rams could have hoped for from a fifth-round selection. The 23-year-old can continue shattering expectations for the Rams in the upcoming wild-card round of the playoffs.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Will exit after notching record
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The Rams plan to remove Nacua from Sunday's game against the 49ers once he records 29 receiving yards, which would allow him to break the single-season rookie receiving record of 1,473 yards, Jay Glazer reported on "Fox NFL Sunday."
Los Angeles is already locked into a road game for the wild-card round of the playoffs and will prioritize resting several of its starters in Week 18 -- including quarterback Matthew Stafford -- with an eye on maintaining health heading into the postseason. Nacua will be an exception to that plan, as the Rams plan to give him the opportunity to try and secure the record set by Bill Groman of the Houston Oilers in 1960. Look for fill-in starting quarterback Carson Wentz to try and funnel targets to Nacua early and often in Sunday's game, but the 23-year-old is expected to be removed from the contest as soon as he sets the record. With that in mind, Nacua won't have much of a ceiling for receiving yardage Sunday and doesn't represent an appealing option in DFS contests.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Just 28 yards from rookie record
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Nacua (hip) caught five of eight targets for 118 yards and rushed twice for 19 yards in Sunday's 26-25 win over the Giants.
Most of Nacua's game-high receiving yardage total came on an 80-yard catch in the third quarter, which set up a two-yard Kyren Williams rushing touchdown on the next play. Williams scored three touchdowns and Cooper Kupp caught one, while Nacua remained stuck on five touchdowns. Nacua's up to 101 catches for 1,445 yards, leaving him just 28 receiving yards shy of Bill Groman's rookie record of 1,473 heading into the Week 18 season finale in San Francisco.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Suiting up Sunday
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Nacua (hip) is active for Sunday's game at the Giants, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Nacua missed Friday's practice and was deemed questionable by the Rams, but ahead of Sunday's contest coach Sean McVay told Klein that he expected the wide receiver to play through his hip issue. With Nacua's active status confirmed, look for the 2023 fifth-rounder to maintain his key role in the Rams offense Week 17. Through 15 games to date, Nacua has racked up a team-high 96 catches (on 146 targets) for 1,327 yards and five TDs.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Should play through hip injury
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Nacua will miss Friday's practice with a hip injury and will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game at the Giants, but head coach Sean McVay said the wide receiver is still expected to play, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports that Nacua is dealing with tightness in his hip, something he'll attempt to play through with Los Angeles battling for a wild-card spot. The rookie sensation has been listed with shoulder, knee, rib and oblique injuries this season, but ultimately he's taken on at least 40 snaps and seven targets in each of the Rams' 15 games to date. He needs 147 receiving yards over the final two weeks to break Bill Groman's all-time rookie record (1,473 in 1960), while 129 yards would give Nacua the post-merger record set by Ja'Marr Chase (1,455) two seasons ago.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: New high-water yardage mark in win
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Nacua brought in nine of 11 targets for 164 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 30-22 win over the Saints on Thursday night. He also rushed twice for 16 yards.
Nacua paced the Rams in receptions and receiving yards while checking in just one target behind Cooper Kupp's team-leading 12. The standout rookie helped the Rams get off to a strong start, recording a two-yard touchdown grab late in the first quarter for the first points of the night. Nacua bested his previous high in receiving yards by one in what was his sixth time clearing the century mark this season, and he'll aim to put together a successful encore on the road against a suspect Giants secondary during a Week 17 matchup on New Year's Eve.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Held to 50 yards
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Nacua recorded five receptions on eight targets for 50 yards in Sunday's 28-20 win over the Commanders. He added two rushes for three yards.
Nacua matched Cooper Kupp for the team lead in targets, though his inconsistent production of late continued. His longest catch of the day went for 18 yards, but three of his five receptions went for single-digit yard gains. Overall, Nacua has 50 or fewer yards in four of his last seven games, though he's reached at least 70 yards in his three other contests in that span.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Full practice Thursday
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Nacua (shoulder) practiced in full Thursday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Nacua opened Week 14 prep with a capped walkthrough due to the AC joint sprain that he suffered in his right shoulder this past Sunday versus the Browns. One day later, though, he was able to manage every practice rep, paving the way for him to suit up Sunday at Baltimore. Despite already boasting 1,029 receiving yards in 12 games to begin his career, the rookie fifth-round pick will be facing a tough task against a Ravens defense that has given up just 5.7 yards per target (first in the NFL) to opposing wide receivers this season.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Limited in walkthrough
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Nacua (shoulder) was a limited participant in Wednesday's walkthrough, Greg Beacham of the Associated Press reports.
In the wake of Nacua playing through pain this past Sunday against the Browns, head coach Sean McVay revealed Monday that the receiver is dealing with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. Two days later, McVay elaborated on Nacua's capped session, saying that the rookie "did everything" in the Rams' walk-through session. McVay's comment implies Nacua likely isn't in danger of sitting out this Sunday's road matchup with the Ravens, but his status still should be watched as the weekend draws closer to get a sense of his potential to play.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Big day in Week 13 win
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Nacua caught four of seven targets for 105 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 36-19 win over the Browns.
The rookie wideout hauled in the first of three Matthew Stafford TDs on the afternoon, turning a slant route over the middle into a 70-yard score in the first quarter. It's Nacua's fifth 100-yard performance of the season but his first since Week 7, while the touchdown was his fourth. While Sunday's performance was encouraging and the Rams' passing game has some juicy matchups down the stretch, Nacua could have trouble maintaining his momentum in Week 14 against the Ravens.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Dealing with rib issue
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Nacua departed Sunday's contest against the Browns due to a rib injury.
Nacua exited twice in the second quarter, first due to cramps and then with an apparent shoulder injury. However, the Rams are calling it a rib issue, leaving him questionable to return. At the time he left the game, Nacua had four catches (on six targets) for 105 yards and one touchdown. Cooper Kupp should have plenty of volume come his way from quarterback Matthew Stafford moving forward, with Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, Ben Skowronek and Austin Trammell also on hand for WR reps.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Injures shoulder Sunday
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Nacua went to the locker room favoring his right shoulder during Sunday's game versus the Browns, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
Nacua initially was questionable to return in the middle of the second quarter due to cramps, but he was able to return, only to endure a hard landing on a leaping 20-yard grab. He stayed on the turf for some time before making his way to the sideline slowly with Rams trainers. If he's unable to return, Nacua will finish Week 13 with four catches (on six targets) for 105 yards and one touchdown on the strength of a 70-yard TD.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Dealing with cramps
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Nacua exited Sunday's game against the Browns due to cramps, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
At the time Nacua left in the second quarter, he had a 70-yard touchdown among his three catches for 85 yards. As long as he's sidelined, the Rams' available wide receivers will be Cooper Kupp, Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, Ben Skowronek and Austin Trammell.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Limited Wednesday
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Rams head coach Sean McVay said Nacua (shoulder) will be a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, Greg Beacham of the Associated Press reports.
During a media session Monday, McVay revealed that Nacua was tending to a shoulder injury after Sunday's win versus the Seahawks, and the issue is now affecting his on-field work during Week 12 prep. Nacua at least is practicing, though, which can't be said for Cooper Kupp, who is working his way back from the low-ankle sprain he suffered Week 11. With the health of the Rams' top two pass catchers up in the air, the situation bears watching to see if one or both may miss Sunday's game at Arizona.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Finishes as team's top wideout
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Nacua (knee) corralled five of seven targets for 70 yards and a touchdown while adding seven yards on his lone rushing attempt in Sunday's 17-16 win over the Seahawks.
Nacua finished as the Rams' top receiver after star wideout Cooper Kupp (ankle) left Sunday's contest in the first half with an ankle injury. The rookie standout was then asked to step up in place of his injured teammate for the second time this season, which he accomplished via a touchdown grab towards the end of the first half that helped lead the Rams to victory. At the time of this update, the Rams have not released any additional information on the severity of Kupp's injury, or whether it could affect his status for next Sunday's tilt against the Cardinals, according to ESPN's Sarah Barshop. Nacua would likely see an increase in both his targets and point projections should Kupp sit out against Arizona. The BYU product averaged 9.8 receptions, 13.0 targets and 125.3 receiving yards in four games without Kupp to begin the year.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Will be limited Wednesday
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Head coach Sean McVay said Nacua (knee) will be a limited practice participant Wednesday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
McVay added that Nacua's reps are being capped as a precaution due to the swollen knee that has bothered him since the Rams' Week 8 loss in Dallas. Since then, he suited up for a Week 9 loss at Green Bay, where he gathered in three of seven targets for 32 yards, before using the team's Week 10 bye to rest up. Still, the aforementioned health concern continues to affect Nacua, so his status will be one to watch closely as this Sunday's game against the Seahawks draws closer.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Struggles without Stafford
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Nacua caught three of seven targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Packers.
Nacua has now failed to top 45 yards in three of his last four outings. Sunday's performance came with backup Brett Rypien under center, a development that resulted in merely 130 yards through the air for Los Angeles. Nacua's stock would figure to benefit if Matthew Stafford (thumb) is cleared to return following the Rams' Week 10 bye.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Stays limited Thursday
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Nacua (knee) practiced on a limited basis Thursday, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Nacua seemingly has had a preternatural rapport with Matthew Stafford since making his pro debut Week 1, reeling in 61 of 89 targets for 795 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. Even with Cooper Kupp back in action as of Week 5, Nacua still has put up a 22-294-1 line on 37 targets over the last four contests. As the Rams prepare for a Week 9 visit to Green Bay, both Nacua and Stafford are dealing with health concerns, but the wide receiver at least has been able to log back-to-back capped sessions, while the quarterback hasn't mixed into drills yet due to a sprained UCL in his right thumb. Nacua's tending to some swelling in his knee, and Friday's practice report will reveal whether or not he enters the weekend with a designation for Sunday's game. Assuming Nacua does suit up, he could be on the receiving end of passes from Brett Rypien if Stafford doesn't gain clearance to play.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Will be limited Wednesday
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Rams head coach Sean McVay said Nacua (knee) will be a limited practice participant Wednesday, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
McVay told Greg Beacham of the Associated Press on Monday that Nacua had some swelling in his knee in the aftermath of the Rams' Week 8 loss at Dallas, which could result in the receiver facing some practice limitations this week. Indeed, that has come to pass Wednesday, but it's unclear if Nacua will remain limited Thursday and Friday. Regardless, Nacua's status for Sunday's game in Green Bay doesn't seem to be in peril.
