Getty Puka Nacua celebrates the game winning touchdown on October 1, 2023 in Indianapolis.
How impressive has Puka Nacua been for the Los Angeles Rams in the first four games of his NFL career? Even a legendary Rams wideout can’t help being impressed by how the rookie has approached his first season.
Torry Holt, who played 10 years for the St. Louis Rams, paid Nacua a nice compliment after he charged his way into the end zone for his first career touchdown, a game-deciding score in overtime that gave the Rams a 29-23 road win over the Indianapolis Colts.
“Congrats, Puka! Your spirit for football shows,” Holt wrote on X, formerly Twitter, responding to a post from Nacua after the game in which he wrote, “First one couldn’t have been sweeter.”
Nacua replied with a succinct but respectful “Thank you sir” to Holt, a former All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler who led the Rams to two Super Bowl appearances and a championship in the 1999 season.
@AsapPuka Congrats, Puka! Your spirit for football shows. #RamsWideout 🙏🏾
Similarities Between Puka Nacua & Torry Holt
Much as Nacua has done, Holt used his rookie season to make his immediate impact on the Rams. As part of the famed “Greatest Show of Turf” days, alongside Hall of Famers Isaac Bruce and Kurt Warner, Holt caught 52 passes for 788 yards and scored six touchdowns in route to the team’s first Vince Lombardi Trophy. Holt went on to play for the Rams for nine more years before finishing his career in 2009 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He led the league in yardage in 2000 and 2003 and receptions in 2003. He finished his career with 13,882 receiving yards (17th all time) and 74 touchdowns (tied for 40th all time).
Twenty-four years later, Nacua has rewritten some Rams rookie records, including most single-game receptions (15, in Week 2 versus the San Francisco 49ers).
But now, he has the most receptions by a player in the first four and five games of a career, according to the Rams.
WR Puka Nacua is the 2nd player in NFL history with 100+ receiving yards in three of his first four games and has the most receptions by a player in his first four and first five career games. @AsapPuka
And ESPN’s Adam Schefter elaborated on the Rams’ post.
“Rams’ rookie WR Puka Nacua has 39 receptions and surpassed Anquan Boldin and his 30 receptions in 2003 for the most receptions ever by a player in his first four NFL games. Nacua also surpassed Reggie Bush and his 34 receptions in 2006 for the most receptions by a player in his first five NFL games,” Schefter posted. “Nacua also has 501 receiving yards and surpassed Boldin and his 464 yards in 2003 for the most receiving yards ever by a player in his first four NFL games. Quite the start.”
Best Catches of the Day by Nacua
The Rams, through head coach Sean McVay, are starting to get more creative with using Nacua.
On this second quarter reception, Nacua is the motion receiver. However, Nacua is seen cutting through the tight end Tyler Higbee and right tackle Rob Havenstein — almost in the fashion of a running back running an off tackle play. The play ends with Nacua getting past the Colts’ 35.
Puka Nacua just all over the field 💪
📺: #LARvsIND on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus t.co/Jq9JHUeqb6
Then, he showed his concentration and theatricality on a one-handed catch to keep this drive alive.
Puka Nacua sets the record for most receptions through a player’s first 4 games (31) 🙌
📺: #LARvsIND on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus t.co/Jq9JHUeqb6
Of course, his best highlight was his first career touchdown. Nacua ended his outing in Indy with nine catches for 163 yards and the final touchdown to lift the Rams to 2-2 overall.