The Los Angeles Rams’ rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua is having a phenomenal season, racking up 1,327 receiving yards through 15 games. He is now within reach of the NFL rookie record of 1,473 yards set by Houston Oilers WR Bill Groman in 1960. In the Super Bowl era, Cincinnati Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase has the record with 1,455 yards.
The 6’2″, 205 pound Nacua, a native of Orem, Utah, played at the University of Washington (2019-2020) and BYU (2021-2022) and was selected in the 5th round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Against the New Orleans Saints this past weekend he recorded a career high 164 yards on nine receptions including a touchdown catch.
With his 1,327 receiving yards, Nacua passed Odell Beckham and Randy Moss for the fifth-most receiving yards ever by a rookie and he did it in fewer games than Moss. Moss had some insane numbers that Puka can’t touch—19 yards per catch and 17 touchdowns—but Nacua’s better at his own specialty. His 97 receptions are 28 more than Moss.
With another 50 yards, Nacua will tie Anquan Boldin for the fourth-most receiving yards by a rookie. He needs 74 yards to pass Justin Jefferson (1,400) for third place. He needs 124 yards to pass Ja’Marr Chase, who did it in 17 games. And Nacua needs 146 yards to pass Bill Groman for the rookie receiving yardage record. To Groman’s credit, he did it in only 14 games. Maybe Puka can still be the first rookie receiver to cross 1,500 yards, if not go much further.
With four more catches, he will tie Boldin for second place, and with eight more, he will pass Jaylen Waddle for the rookie record.
The Rams finish the 2023 regular season with two road trips, against the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers.
