Tag: Puka Nacua

Look: Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua working out together this offseason

Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are hitting the gym together this offseason as they stay fresh for the 2024 campaign

There are still a couple of months until the Los Angeles Rams get back together again for their offseason workout program but players are obviously still permitted to train on their own before OTAs begin. Puka Nacua told Rams Wire recently that he plans to stay in Los Angeles as he prepares for the 2024 season – partly because he wants to catch “as many Lakers games as possible” – and he’s linking up with Cooper Kupp for some winter workouts.

Trainer Ryan Sorensen shared a video on Instagram this week of Kupp and Nacua training together at what appears to be Kupp’s home gym. Nacua and Kupp built a strong connection throughout the 2023 season as Nacua got settled into the NFL and it looks like they’re going to be hanging out a bunch this offseason.

Sorensen also posted a video of Kupp doing some training on his own earlier this month as he gears up for a bounce-back season in 2024.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3I0VN_PKVy/?hl=en

Dana White goes way back with Puka Nacua: ‘He grew up in our house’

Dana White is close with Puka Nacua and couldn’t be more proud of all he’s accomplished in the NFL already

Puka Nacua and Dana White aren’t related, but Nacua calls the UFC president “Uncle Dana” because they’ve been close for years – all the way back to when Nacua was a youth football player. Before moving to Utah, Nacua grew up in Las Vegas with his family and was friends with White’s son, Dana. They played youth football together, so White almost became a family member to Nacua with how close they became.

During an interview with Julian Edelman on “Games With Names,” White talked about his ties to Nacua and how proud he is to see all that the Rams receiver has accomplished.

“My kids grew up with Puka. He grew up in our house,” White said before Edelman asked, “Was he ballin’?”

“Ballin’. Me and Lorenzo used to fund a team called the ‘Little Cowboys’ and he was on the ‘Little Cowboys’ with my kids and a bunch of other guys that are playing right now,” White said. “There’s a few kids that went to the NFL from that team, and good colleges, too. To see Puka doing what he’s doing now, it could not happen to a better human being.”

“When you meet this kid, you will love this kid. He’s such a good kid.”

Coach David White shared a photo on Twitter four years ago that has White’s son, Dana, and Nacua wearing their Little Cowboys uniforms. Little did anyone know, Nacua would go on to become a star in the NFL.

White congratulated Nacua in January when he broke the rookie receptions and receiving yards record in Week 18 against the 49ers, sharing just how proud and happy he is for the Rams wideout.

Last year, the Rams did a rookie challenge where he had to call the most famous person in his phone. Humbly, Nacua dialed up Uncle Dana White, who answered and couldn’t have been more excited about it.

“I love seeing you in the Rams gear! I’m so proud of you, man.”

Not every rookie in the NFL can casually FaceTime the UFC president but Nacua goes way back with White and his family, which is awesome.

Rams’ 2023 rookie class ranked 3rd by NFL.com, which is still too low

The Rams’ 2023 rookie class was ranked third in the NFL, but even that’s too low

The Los Angeles Rams needed an impactful rookie class in 2023 after kicking off their roster rebuild and they hit a home run. Despite not having a first-round pick, the Rams came away with a draft class that helped them secure a wild-card spot and nearly upset the Lions in the first round of the playoffs.

Puka Nacua had the best rookie season ever by a wide receiver, setting multiple records, while Kobie Turner led all rookies with nine sacks – as a defensive tackle, no less. Fellow third-round pick Byron Young finished second among all rookies with eight sacks, too. And that’s without even mentioning their top pick, Steve Avila, who didn’t miss a single snap all year.

NFL.com ranked every draft class from 2023 and shockingly, the Rams weren’t first or second. They were ranked third, but even that’s too low. The Texans earned the top spot and the Steelers were ranked second.

The Rams haven’t had a first-round pick since they took Jared Goff first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, but general manager Les Snead scored a highly productive haul with his 2023 rookie class, which was studded with multiple first-year standouts.

It’s understandable that the Texans would be ranked ahead of the Rams after C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. won Rookie of the Year awards. However, it’s really hard to make the case that the Steelers’ rookie class was better than the Rams’.

From top to bottom, the Rams had five rookies who played a pivotal role for them. Davis Allen did a nice job filling in at tight end when Tyler Higbee was injured, too. How each class turns out in the next three or four years remains to be seen, but just based on rookie impact, the Rams had the better draft.

Watch: Puka Nacua throws down two highlight-reel dunks in NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

Puka Nacua threw down two impressive dunks during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday night 🔥

Puka Nacua let everyone know on Friday night that he’s an all-around athlete beyond just being an incredible wide receiver. At the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Indianapolis, Nacua showed off his hops and playmaking skills on the floor at Lucas Oil Stadium.

His best play of the night was a one-handed dunk in the first half, intercepting a pass at midcourt and taking it all the way for the rack attack. Nacua got up pretty high for the dunk and threw it down hard, showing that he’s not there just to shoot jumpers.

Here’s another angle of his ferocious dunk in the lane.

Later on in the game, he got a breakaway opportunity and dunked that one with authority, too.

Puka Nacua is playing in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game tonight

Puka Nacua will officially play in tonight’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, as will C.J. Stroud, Micah Parsons and Mecole Hardman

Puka Nacua is going to take his talents from the football field to the basketball court for one night, and it’s going to be in front of a huge audience. Nacua told Pat McAfee last week that he wanted to play in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and while it was never officially confirmed that Nacua was added to the game, McAfee did what he could to get the Rams receiver in on the fun.

Adam Schefter posted on Twitter that Nacua will officially play in the Celebrity Game in Indianapolis, as will C.J. Stroud, Micah Parsons and Mecole Hardman. The NBA All-Star account confirmed the news, too, revealing that Nacua will be on Team Shannon, which is coached by Shannon Sharpe.

Nacua is a talented basketball player, scoring 961 points, grabbing 417 rebounds and recording 316 assists in his four years at Orem High School in Utah.

He scored a career-high 27 points during the 2017-2018 season, grabbing six rebounds with two steals in that game against Desert Hills.

The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game will air on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET tonight at Lucas Oil Stadium. Below are the full rosters for each team.

Puka Nacua tells hilarious story of the time he ‘ran out the weight room’ after getting in Aaron Donald’s way

“I ran out the weight room. I acted like I had to use the bathroom. I was filled with so much fear.”

Aaron Donald strikes fear in even the most seasoned and talented veterans, so for a rookie, he’s especially terrifying. It’s not that he’s the biggest player on the field, but 99% of the time, he’s the scariest.

As a rookie in OTAs, Puka Nacua quickly learned just how scary Donald is.

During an interview with Chris Long on the Green Light podcast, Nacua told the story of a hilarious (and fear-inducing) encounter he had with Donald in the weight room while working out in OTAs. Nacua accidentally got in Donald’s way not just once, but twice, which you don’t want to do as a rookie.

After being told to move twice, Nacua ran out of the weight room and pretended he had to use the bathroom, saying he was “filled with so much fear.”

“I have a funny story,” he began. “We had 40 rookies during OTAs and stuff. I see AD over there, he’s got the lifting coach with him, Coach Lovett, he’s just working out by himself. He’s probably been there – we had the conditioning test then we had to come do the rookie test, but he’s been lifting this whole time so it’s like two hours we’re in there and he’s been in there. He’s got the 180s by the dumbbell rack, doing rows with the 180. I don’t see him, I have my back (turned), I’m doing the massage gun on my shoulder, about to get ready for the workout. And all I hear is, ‘Move.’ And I’m like, I drop the Theragun, jump, and I turn around and it’s AD. I move, but I guess I don’t move out the way enough because I just turned around and start doing the gun on the other side and he said, ‘Move again.’ All right. I ran out the weight room. I ran out the weight room, I acted like I had to use the bathroom. I was filled with so much fear.”

Nacua is a well-known rookie now after putting together a historic season in 2023, but back in OTAs, he was just a fifth-rounder trying to make the team, so you can imagine how scary it was to get in the way of Donald during a workout.

Watch Nacua tell the story in the video below.

Puka Nacua wants to play NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and Pat McAfee may have gotten him in

Pat McAfee is trying to get Puka Nacua into the NBA All-Star Celebrity game and appears to have made it happen

Puka Nacua is a big basketball guy. He loves the Lakers, enjoys playing pick-up games and is a huge LeBron James fan. He even invited Jalen Ramsey out to Los Angeles to play some ball in the middle of the Pro Bowl flag football game.

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show last week, Nacua said he wants to play in the upcoming NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and McAfee immediately said, “You’re in it, congratulations.”

Obviously, it isn’t that simple and McAfee doesn’t exactly have a say in who plays – especially considering the rosters were already announced – but his show is on ESPN, which is carrying the Celebrity Game.

On Monday, McAfee went a step further to help grant Nacua’s wish. He called ESPN Senior Vice President Mike Foss and asked who he needs to call in order to get Nacua into the game.”

Foss: “You just did. He’s in.”

So, apparently Nacua is going to play in the Celebrity Game on Friday night. Maybe.

The official NBA All-Star account posted the rosters on social media Monday night and Nacua’s name was left off the list, so who knows if he’s actually going to play on Friday. Perhaps he can be a late addition.

C.J. Stroud and Micah Parsons are both playing, albeit on separate teams. And we could use another Nacua vs. Stroud battle after they finished first and second in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race.

C.J. Stroud wins Offensive Rookie of the Year over Puka Nacua

Puka Nacua set several records as a rookie this season, but it wasn’t enough to win him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua set records for the most receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) ever by a rookie in a season, but those historic numbers weren’t enough to earn him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud took home the award at the NFL Honors show on Thursday night after a strong first season as the No. 2 overall pick. The Associated Press’ award was voted on by a panel of 50 journalists who cover the NFL.

Stroud undoubtedly put together a strong season, throwing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He completed 63.9% of his passes and led the Texans to a 9-6 record in the 15 games he played, helping them reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2019 season.

Stroud led the NFL with an average of 273.9 passing yards per game and also had the lowest interception rate (1.0%) of any quarterback.

As impressive as Stroud’s season was, it’s hard to believe that Nacua didn’t do enough to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Garrett Wilson won it last year with 1,103 yards, and Ja’Marr Chase won it the year prior with 1,455 yards. It just so happens that Nacua accomplished all that he did in the same season that Stroud put together a remarkably impressive rookie year.

The official voting tallies were revealed and Nacua finished second.

Puka Nacua weighs in on Rookie of the Year race, doesn’t feel the award favors QBs

Puka Nacua doesn’t feel Rookie of the Year is a quarterback award and is just happy to even be in the conversation as a wide receiver

On Thursday night at the NFL Honors show, we’ll learn whether Puka Nacua’s historic season with the Los Angeles Rams was enough to win him Offensive Rookie of the Year. It was statistically the best rookie season by a wide receiver in NFL history, but C.J. Stroud is still the favorite to win the award as the top offensive rookie.

Either way, Nacua’s season will hold a place in the record books after he had the most receptions and receiving yards ever by a rookie, and he’s just thankful to even be in the conversation.

In an interview with Rams Wire on behalf of Sleep Number, Nacua said he doesn’t feel Rookie of the Year favors quarterbacks.

“I don’t necessarily feel it’s a quarterback award,” Nacua said. “I know C.J. and I love watching him ball. Especially even at the Pro Bowl, some of the throws he makes are absolutely ridiculous. I think the free style and the confidence he plays with is something I love watching, just the play style that he has. I’m excited either way. To be in that conversation as a wide receiver, the year I had, it was a blessing no matter what. I had a lot of fun and I’m not really too worried about it.”

Nacua may have just finished his first season in the NFL, but he’s as humble as a seasoned veteran. Despite being the most accomplished rookie receiver in league history, Nacua knows there are areas of improvement and ways he can get better in his second season.

“Definitely my cardio and just conditioning, being able to play all snaps of the game,” he said. “And catching. I was unaware I led the NFL in drops, so that’s definitely something I can’t let happen again.”

The NFL will announce the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award on Thursday night at the NFL Honors, which airs at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

Every NFL team’s receiving leader from the 2023 regular season

Each team’s leader in receiving yards from 2023

Look, we know the Carolina Panthers had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year—particularly on offense. But fair is fair, and we already gave you passing and rushing leaders.

So, let’s finish it out and run through each team’s leader in receiving yards from the 2023 regular season.