The Los Angeles Rams could have misplaced to the rival San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, however they nonetheless appear a lot more like the crowd that gained the Tremendous Bowl in 2021-22 than the weary veteran squad that limped to a 5-12 end closing season. 

Those Rams, alternatively, don’t a lot resemble that staff of big-name veterans that gave professor Sean McVay his first Lombardi trophy just about two years in the past. Some of the largest elements to the Rams’ luck on offense (except for a resurgent Matthew Stafford) has been Puka Nacua, a rookie broad receiver picked within the 5th spherical out of BYU within the 2023 NFL Draft.

Nacua all set more than one NFL rookie data Sunday. His 15 catches for 147 yards towards the fearsome 49ers protection had been probably the most receptions via a rookie in league historical past. Nacua additionally become the primary rookie to have a minimum of 10 catches and 100 receiving yards in every of his first two video games, and his 25 general receptions are probably the most in NFL historical past over a rookie’s first two video games, according to FOX Sports activities analysis.

NFL on FOX broadcaster Kevin Kugler has been at the name for each Rams video games this season — L.A.’s unexpected 30-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Moment 1 and the Rams’ 30-23 loss to the 49ers on Sunday — which means that he has been in all places Nacua’s get up. Alternatively, as he instructed David Helman at the NFL on FOX Podcast, Kugler is much more shocked via who Nacua is off the ground.

“He is remarkable,” Kugler mentioned. “We met with him last week before the game. He was one of the guys we sat down with and had a long conversation with, and I’ll tell you what, he is enjoying every single second of this. He has a constant smile on his face.”

Nacua has taken on this type of leading function within the Rams’ offense as a result of the a lack of big name broad receiver Cooper Kupp, who’s nursing a lingering hamstring trauma and used to be put on injured conserve prior to the season, which means he’s going to be out via a minimum of the Rams’ first 4 video games.

However few within the Rams’ development are shocked at how without problems Nacua has crammed such colossal sneakers, particularly since he has actually been following Kupp’s footsteps since arriving with the workforce.

“I mean, this kid is something special,” Kugler mentioned. “At the beginning of Rams camp — Rams coaches talk about it — the minute he walked in, they went, ‘Oh, this guy’s the real deal.’ And he’s done nothing but continue to impress and continue to learn. He’s really attached himself to Cooper Kupp … and is really trying to just soak up every bit of information that Cooper Kupp is willing to share.”

Nacua misplaced his father when he used to be 11 years worn, Kugler mentioned, and used to be raised from upcoming on via his mom and his brothers. His used brother Kai Nacua become a father determine to him, and become the primary Nacua sibling to play games within the NFL, spending six seasons within the league prior to enjoying for the Michigan Panthers of the USFL in 2023.

“[Puka] thinks about his father during the national anthem,” Kugler mentioned. “He looks up to the heavens, his eyes are filled with tears. This is a young man who has so much passion, energy and love for this game. And you can just see it oozing out of every pore. He is incredibly emotional. He’s tough.”

How tricky? In keeping with Kugler, Nacua used to be combating a rib trauma Sunday “that was clearly bothering him,” but nonetheless had a record-setting afternoon.

Nacua’s sure power seems to have unfold to a Rams workforce that used to be in determined want of brandnew wind. McVay just about resigned his place out of exhaustion on the finish of closing season, and the distinction between the Rams upcoming and the Rams now’s putting to Kugler, who noticed the workforce ceaselessly closing future.

“The demeanor of this team was low,” Kugler recalled. “I mean, from the head coach on down. This was a team that was beaten down by injury and by [losing]. It was a rough season. Coming into this year, they have Matthew Stafford back but there [are] so many new faces, and I think that has brought an energy to this team that maybe they didn’t even expect going into the season. I know Sean McVay is so fired up for this group.”

Because the Rams equipment up for a Tremendous Bowl LVI rematch towards the Bengals then while, they are going to be lacking lots of the family names that propelled L.A. to a victory over Cincinnati again in Feb. 2022. However with unutilized faces like Nacua within the line, those Rams would possibly nonetheless be plethora bad.

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