Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua now has the most receptions (52) through five games to begin an NFL season after his 10-catch, 85-yard, one-touchdown performance in a 26-23 overtime home loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday.
Nacua has amassed 588 receiving yards and two touchdowns as well. The former BYU star, who was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft, has also caught 83.9 percent of his 62 targets.
Nacua has been phenomenal all year. He’s caught at least eight passes and amassed at least 85 yards in each of his five games. Nacua just posted a fantastic effort last Sunday in a 27-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts, snagging 13 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown.
Remarkably, Nacua is on pace for 177 catches and 1,999 yards over a 17-game season, and it’s possible he could hold the league’s single-season reception and yardage records by the end of the year.
Detroit Lions wideout Calvin Johnson set the record for most receiving yards over a single season in 2012 with 1,964, accomplished in a 16-game campaign. Nacua’s ex-Rams teammate, Seattle Seahawks wideout Cooper Kupp, is second all time with 1,947 yards. Remarkably, quarterback Matthew Stafford was the signal-caller for Johnson and Kupp and now might help Nacua to a record-breaking season himself.
On the reception front, former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas has the single-season record with 149 in 2019 (16-game season). Kupp is second with 145.
Nacua is averaging 10.4 catches and 117.6 yards per contest on the year. Simply put, he’s a machine right now, to the point where it’s a matter of when and not if he gets going in a game.
The 24-year-old had just three catches for 24 yards at halftime, but he got hot in the second half and overtime with seven receptions for 61 yards and a score, which cut the 49er lead to 20-13.
The Rams now enter a bye week with a 3-2 record. They’ll visit the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Oct. 12 once they finish their break.
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