Los Angeles Rams rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua has been setting records all season long with historic output from a first-year player. He’s also been one of the better receivers in all of football this season as he ranks fourth in both yards and receptions among all receivers this season through nine weeks.
Even in a down game for the surprise Pro Bowl candidate wide receiver, he still managed to make some Rams history. Matthew Stafford was sidelined with a thumb injury in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers, leading Brett Rypien to step in as the starter. He completed only 13 passes, three of them to Nacua for 32 yards.
Nacua’s history-maker came with his second catch of the day — and his 63rd of the season — to make him the Rams all-time leader for receptions in a rookie campaign, doing so in only nine weeks, via J.B. Long:
Puka Nacua just broke the @RamsNFL rookie record for receptions in… <<checks notes>> Week 9.
63 and counting for @AsapPuka.
Previous mark was held by his teammate Cooper Kupp in 2017 (62).
— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) November 5, 2023
Nacua is currently on pace to finish the year with 121 receptions, which would not only smash the Rams previous record set by teammate Cooper Kupp by almost 60 catches, it would also ensure that he’ll hold the record for a very long time.
He would also break the NFL record for receptions in a rookie season if he reached this figure. The current record is 104 catches set by Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins in 2021. Nacua is putting himself in historic company with the way he has been a magnet for the ball this season.
Nacua is less likely to reach the receiving yards record set in the modern era by Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals. He had 1,455 receiving yards in his rookie campaign, and while Nacua is theoretically on pace to beat that with 1,562 yards, his output has slowed down in recent weeks and the injury to Stafford may make that a more difficult chase.
Kupp receives Salute to Service nomination
Each year, the NFL — in partnership with USAA — names one nominee from each team and then one winner for the Salute to Service Award. The Salute to Service Award presented by USAA acknowledges the exceptional efforts by members of the NFL community to honor and support U.S. service members, veterans and their families.
This year, the Rams nominee is none other than All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp. The nominees were announced on Wednesday morning, with Kupp receiving the bid for L.A. as one of the 32 nominees.
