Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is on the verge of breaking a 63-year-old rookie record.
Per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Nacua needs 29 receiving yards in a Week 18 road game against the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) to surpass the mark Bill Groman set with the Houston Oilers in 1960 (1,473). The 22-year-old has averaged 90.3 yards per game, so it’s within reach.
However, the Rams (9-7) clinched a playoff spot in Sunday’s victory over the New York Giants, so it wouldn’t be shocking if head coach Sean McVay rests his starters. Following the 26-25 win, he didn’t clarify his plans.
“We’ll see what else happens [in the playoff race], and then we will have our plan accordingly,” McVay said, per Sarah Barshop of ESPN. “But our focus and concentration will be on cleaning up these mistakes from this game and then doing a great job with our preparation against the No. 1 seed in the NFC.”
Regardless, the 177th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft has exceeded expectations. In 16 games, he’s fourth in the league in receiving yards (1,445) and tied for eighth in receptions (101).
He also helped the Rams — who have won six of their last seven games — rebound after a disastrous 5-12 season in 2022. Los Angeles ranks eighth in the league in passing yards (244.6) and points scored (23.9).
Nacua is the biggest steal of the 2023 draft. Don’t be surprised if his rise to stardom continues and he becomes a franchise cornerstone. As of Monday, FanDuel gives him the second-best Offensive Rookie of the Year odds (+450) behind Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud.
