While Puka Nacua might not know what week it is in the NFL season, the star wide receiver has matured in a great way for the Los Angeles Rams.
When Nacua sat down with Erin Andrews for an interview on “FOX NFL Sunday,” he said he thought the team’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens was a Week 5 game, not a Week 6 tilt. But that might be the only mistake Nacua has made this season as he leads the NFL in receptions and receiving yards entering Sunday’s slate.
Now in Year 3, Nacua credited his continued rise as one of the league’s top wide receivers to his quarterback, Matthew Stafford, and how he feels more comfortable around him.
“It comes back to the people who’ve been around me,” Nacua told Andrews. “The environment has allowed me to continue to be myself. I’m still that same kid who’s trying to ask Matthew [questions]. I simply do not name him ‘Sir’ anymore. Now, we’ve a relationship. I inform him random issues. I inform him, ‘I’m enjoying ‘Name of Responsibility.’”
When Nacua was a rookie who known as Stafford “sir,” he was nonetheless fairly productive. In reality, Nacua set the rookie receiving yards document (1,486) in 2023. However as Nacua has clearly turn out to be Stafford’s favourite goal, the receiver defined their connection in a method that you just may see in a online game or in a cartoon.
“It looks like there is a path of sunshine or vitality,” Nacua mentioned. “Generally, it is prefer it’s higher once you’re being coated as a result of then he is like, ‘I’ve received to place it in a single spot.’ Then, once you’re open, it is like, ‘How do I wanna lay it as much as you?’ I feel that gentle simply finds one another and the ball is strictly the place it must be.
“Truthfully, it is like an Adele track,” Nacua added.
Puka Nacua defined his particular reference to QB Matthew Stafford (proper) on “FOX NFL Sunday.” (Photograph by Harry How/Getty Pictures)
Not solely has the reference to Stafford helped Nacua lead the league in receiving via the primary 5 weeks of the season, however it’s additionally helped him set data. His 52 receptions have been probably the most in league historical past via the primary 5 weeks of a season. With 558 receiving yards getting into Sunday’s sport, Nacua is on tempo to be the primary receiver in NFL historical past to have no less than 150 receptions and a couple of,000 receiving yards in a season.
But, because the fifth-round choose continues to outperform expectations, Nacua appears to be stunned with what he is carried out to this point in his profession.
“I see the numbers I ended with in my rookie yr and I really feel prefer it did not appear actual,” he mentioned.
However what Nacua does really feel, although, is empowered, thanks to go coach Sean McVay.
“I simply assume that I’m really blessed,” Nacua mentioned. “I consider the surroundings that I got here into, the individuals who have been part of this journey — from my dad being my first Little League soccer coach to having Coach McVay, who looks like a fantastic buddy, the conversations which have occurred after I stroll by his workplace. He’ll say, ‘Hey Puka, how are you doing? What’s occurring?’ and simply checking in with my household as a result of he is aware of these are issues that imply so much to me.”
That empowerment and maturation has additionally helped Nacua really feel extra at house in Los Angeles. He instructed Andrews that he enjoys residing in L.A., attending Lakers and Dodgers video games whereas making journeys to Erewhon.
However the place Nacua actually feels at house is on the soccer discipline, particularly when he is getting bumped and bruised on the occasional carry (three carries to this point this season) and making blocks downfield. As Nacua’s teammates have marveled at his bodily nature, he mentioned he merely feels snug enjoying that method.
“I feel that is my protected place,” Nacua mentioned of his bodily play. “It looks like house. That jogs my memory of being with my brothers within the yard. The chinstrap wasn’t strapped up. The shoulder pads have been too huge. We have been uninterested in tackling the dummy. My dad mentioned, ‘The dummy’s not shifting anymore. Puka, run the ball.'”
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