Tag: Kai Nacua

Watch: Puka Nacua’s brother sacked A.J. McCarron in standout UFL debut

Puka Nacua’s brother, Kai, brought down A.J. McCarron for a sack in the first week of the UFL on Saturday

Puka Nacua has become a household name in the NFL thanks to a historic rookie season in which he set the records for the most receptions and receiving yards ever by a first-year player. However, before he made it to the pros, his brother was playing defensive back a few years prior.

Kai Nacua, who also played at BYU, went undrafted in 2017 but played 16 games for the Browns as a rookie, making three starts. He didn’t play another game until 2020 and played his last game in 2021, but he’s not giving up his football dream yet.

During Saturday’s opening weekend in the UFL, Nacua was a defensive star for the Michigan Panthers. Nacua recorded a game-high 11 tackles, one sack and two tackles for a loss, helping his team to an 18-16 victory over the St. Louis Battlehawks. His highlight play was a sack on former Alabama QB A.J. McCarron in the first quarter.

Several players have gone from spring leagues to the NFL, so Nacua has a chance to do the same if he plays well in the UFL. It’s not easy to do, but perhaps a team in the NFL will give him another shot.

Jets cut LB Kai Nacua

A late addition last season at linebacker was among the Jets cuts Tuesday.

The Jets said goodbye to one of their reserve linebackers Tuesday as they made their cuts to trim their roster down to 80 players.

Among the five players New York released on Tuesday was linebacker Kai Nacua.

Nacua joined the Jets late last season as the team signed him off of the 49ers’ practice squad. He even spent a little time on the active roster for the Jets. He stuck around during the offseason for the Jets before Tuesday’s cuts.

Nacua has also been with the Browns, Ravens, Panthers and Colts.

The move leaves the Jets with eight linebackers heading into Sunday’s preseason finale against the Giants. Final cuts down to 53 are next week.

Jets add Joe Flacco, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to COVID list, sign new safety

The Jets added two more players to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday. They also signed a new safety.

The Jets added two more players to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday, as QB Joe Flacco and RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif became the latest additions.

New York now has 21 people sidelined due to COVID-19 reasons, including head coach Robert Saleh. With Flacco out, Mike White will be Zach Wilson’s backup this Sunday; White just came off the COVID list after a lengthy stay on it that also included a bout with a non-COVID illness.

New York is also down both starting guards and two starting corners. The Jets’ safety depth has also been decimated, though not just by COVID-19 list designations.

That’s why the team also signed Kai Nacua on Thursday.

The safety was most recently on the 49ers’ practice squad and played under Saleh last season in San Francisco. Nacua joined the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2017. The BYU product has also spent time with the Ravens, Panthers and Colts.

He has 15 tackles, one TFL and one QB hit in 22 career games.

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3 draft prospects Texans fans should watch this weekend

The Houston Texans have Week 10 off, but there are three players at the college level fans should watch to whet their appetite for the 2022 NFL draft.

HOUSTON — Due to their schedule bye, the 1-8 Houston Texans will not be in action on Sunday during Week 10 of the NFL season. And even though fans of the Texans will not have an opportunity to watch their favorite team play, Week 11 of college football will be just as relevant.

It’s an opportunity for fans to scout some of the top collegiate prospects that the Texans are in the running for ahead of the 2022 NFL draft in April.

For a glimpse into the recruiting process, here are three prospects Texans fans should watch on Saturday that could be a draft target for Houston.

Safety Kai Nacua announces return to 49ers

San Francisco 49ers free agent safety Kai Nacua announced his return on Twitter.

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The San Francisco 49ers appear to have another of their exclusive rights free agents signed.

Safety Kai Nacua on Wednesday tweeted a photo with the caption, “Returning to #NINERGANG. Let’s work,” complete with the requisite emojis for the occasion. 

Nacua was originally an undrafted free agent signee by the Browns in 2017 following his career at BYU. He played in 16 games for Cleveland with three starts as a rookie. Over the following two seasons he bounced from the Ravens’ practice squad, to the Panthers’ practice squad and then to the Colts during the 2019 preseason where he was cut after two weeks.

San Francisco added Nacua to their practice squad in late November last year as injuries ravaged their secondary. He was promoted to the active roster before the 49ers’ Week 13 game vs. the Bills and stayed on as a special teams contributor for the final five weeks.

The 49ers simply don’t have very many bodies at safety going into the offseason, so Nacua has a shot to stick around the active roster if he can continue adding value on return teams.

49ers roster moves: New safety added to active roster

The San Francisco 49ers promoted safety Kai Nacua to their active roster and opened the practice window for LB Mark Nzeocha.

In a flurry of roster moves on Wednesday, the 49ers promoted safety Kai Nacua to the active roster from the practice squad, signed safety Chris Edwards to replace him on the practice squad, and opened the practice window for linebacker Mark Nzeocha.

Nacua appeared in 16 games as a rookie with the Cleveland Browns in 2017, but has not played in a regular-season game since. It didn’t take long for the BYU product to make an impression in practice. He joined the club Nov. 24 and has already received a promotion.

Edwards was signed by the 49ers out of the Canadian Football League last offseason and he has oscillated between the practice squad, roster, and waivers since. He was most recently on the active roster as a healthy scratch vs. the Rams before getting released after the game.

Nzeocha is listed as a linebacker, but he primarily contributes on special teams. He appeared in three games this season and recorded no statistics before suffering a quadriceps injury in the 49ers’ 36-9 victory over the New York Giants. He went on Injured Reserve after that game, and now the 49ers have a 21-day window to either activate Nzeocha or put him on season-ending IR.

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