Tag: samson nacua

Samson Nacua disappointed after almost making the play of the day

Samson Nacua isn’t eager to check the family group chat after his almost-kick six. ‘I am going to be sick, because I know I’m faster than Puka’

It’s not often you get to say you almost made the play of the day. Samson Nacua was as blown away by his big kick return against the Tennessee Titans as everyone watching in the stands and at home. The New Orleans Saints wide receiver fielded a too-short field goal try just before halftime and returned it, officially, 106 yards before being thrown out of bounds around the 3-yard line.

“Going sideways made it feel like an extra sixty yards. Because I got to that fifty yard line and I was like, ‘My legs are gone,'” Nacua laughed to reporters after the game. He said he could hear his teammates on the sideline cheering him on and that energy helped him keep going. He’s still frustrated he came up short of the goal line: “Oh a hundred percent I’m disappointed. Coach said too, like, ‘It’s the end of the half, no matter what get it in, don’t get tackled with the ball.’ And what did I do? I got freaking tackled with the ball and I let the guys down. I should’ve pitched it to the homeboy that was right there, let him walk it in for me.”

He’s taking this one on the chin. Nacua didn’t expect the kick to fall to him in the end zone, at first; but when the first try barely cleared the crossbar, he realized he had a chance. So he adjusted his positioning and trusted the practice reps that special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi had given him to set him up for success. It’s just a shame he couldn’t go the distance.

Now he’s getting razzed by his famous brother Puka Nacua, the Los Angeles Rams star, in the family group chat: “They’re probably going to tell me I’m the slower brother, and I am going to be sick, because I know I’m faster than Puka.” For the record, Puka Nacua timed the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds at his BYU pro day. Samson Nacua timed a 4.52 on the same track a year earlier.

And did he keep the football? No, and Nacua says he wouldn’t have accepted it if it were offered. His big regret about this play is that he let his teammates blocking for him down by not punching into the end zone. All he can do now is hope he gets another opportunity to make good on it. It almost seems like he feels he owes them one.

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Samson Nacua of Saints returns missed FG 106 yards, misses out on TD

Samson Nacua of the Saints with a 106-yard return that came up short of paydirt

Samson Nacua of the New Orleans Saints is in his first NFL season with the NFC South team. The 26-year-old from BYU already has a career highlight despite coming up three yards short of the end zone.

In a preseason game Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, Nacua collected a missed 58-yard field goal by Bryan Narveson in the back of the end zone. He took off and started running, hoping for a kick six.

Nacua was forced out of bounds by Titans tight end Thomas Odukoya, who gets major hustle points for not giving up on Nacua.

Samson Nacua is the older brother of the Rams’ Puka Nakua. His NFL journey is far different than his younger brother, who starred as a rookie last  season.

Per NOLA.com:

Nearly two years passed between Nacua’s first NFL opportunity, as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, and his next, when he signed with the New Orleans Saints earlier this month. In that time, he found temporary work to occupy him; not only in restaurants and construction sites, but in the USFL and UFL. He found time to train toward his still flickering dream. He made time to drive to interesting places and meet interesting people and soak up life.

 

Samson Nacua came up just short of a kick-six in Titans preseason game

Samson Nacua returned this missed field goal 106 yards, but he was just yards away from a huge Saints kick-six. See the play for yourself:

Samson Nacua nearly made the play of the day in the New Orleans Saints’ preseason game with the Tennessee Titans. Titans kicker Brayden Narveson was too short from 58 yards out on a field goal try before halftime, but Nacua was in position to field it and bring it out for a return. First following his blockers right, Nacua cut back to his left and flew upfield and into the open field.

But it wasn’t to be. You hate to see this for Nacua, but you’ve got to give credit to Titans tight end Thomas Odukoya for hustling to catch Nacua from behind and force him out of bounds short of the goal line, scuttling what would’ve been a kick-six. He was credited with 106 yards on the return but needed 109 for the score.

Still, it was an exhilarating play, and it’s great to see Nacua’s teammates congratulating him on the field and again on the sideline for showing such great effort. You just wish he could’ve gone the distance. A better block by safety Johnathan Abram at the end of the return may have walled off Odukoya long enough for Nacua to cross the goal line, but we’ll never know. Good on Nacua for doing everything he could to make a play here.

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6 Saints with the most to gain against the Cardinals

6 Saints with the most to gain against the Cardinals: Jordan Mims is in line for heavy snaps, Samson Nacua has some momentum, and Spencer Rattler can take over

The New Orleans Saints will launch their 2024 preseason on Saturday night against the Arizona Cardinals, and while all of their healthy players are expected to get on the field throughout the evening, some have more to gain than others.

Between training camp battles and opportunities created by the injury bug biting their competition, a couple of players must seize this moment. That means making plays and doing things to catch their coach’s eye.

With that in mind, here are six players we’re going to be watching closely at State Farm Stadium when the Saints and Cardinals kick off in exhibition:

Nacua, who wears the No. 89 jersey, might be more than the brother of another team’s young star. He’s been competing hard at Saints training camp and made some acrobatic catches, quickly becoming one of Jake Haener’s favorite targets on the third-team offense. But with so many receivers sidelined by injuries (the Saints may only have six of them healthy for this game), Nacua should see plenty of targets regardless of who’s in at quarterback.

Dennis Allen has already spoken about how eager the Saints are to get Mims more touches and opportunities in the preseason so they can fully evaluate his game. They know he can run well behind Klint Kubiak’s zone-heavy blocking scheme, and he caught a lot of passes in college — from Haener at Fresno State. But can he pick up the blitz in pass protection? Can he add an element to their special teams coverage? Expect Mims to audition in a couple of different roles as he makes his case for a roster spot.

Haener is still ahead of Rattler on the depth chart, but that could change in a hurry if the rookie lights it up. He’s had some turnovers and regrettable throws at training camp but he’s also made a lot of passes that anyone would be proud of on their highlight reel. If Rattler gets out there and commands the offense with authority and keeps the Cardinals defense on their heels, watch out. He just might take that QB2 spot.

Orji might be losing ground in the competition for a roster spot at linebacker. And this is where things fell apart for him last summer — he missed too many tackles in the preseason, which ultimately landed him on the practice squad. He needs to tackle cleanly and prove his coaches can trust him when they call his number. Expect him to play a lot of snaps inn the third quarter and second half behind guys like D’Marco Jackson and Khaleke Hudson.

It almost feels like cheating to highlight a player drafted as highly as McKinstry, but Dennis Allen has spoken about how badly he needs reps this offseason after missing the spring program recovering from foot surgery. Both Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo have missed recent practices while dealing with their own injuries lately, so the rookie should see a ton of snaps. Every rep counts when he’s making his case to get on the field in September.

Did you know this will be the first NFL game of Hergel’s life — as a spectator or player? The rookie guard has quietly enjoyed a very strong summer, and if the Saints didn’t have Cesar Ruiz entrenched on the right side he might already be in the starting lineup. Hergel has taken almost all of the snaps at right guard on the second-team offense while occasionally rotating into the left guard spot with the starters. He’s put himself in great position to win a roster spot, but a productive preseason could seal the deal.

Saints sign Puka Nacua’s brother, Samson Nacua

Puka Nacua’s brother Samson is getting a shot with the Saints this summer

Puka Nacua is no longer the only Nacua in the NFL. On Friday, the Saints announced they have signed Nacua’s brother, Samson Nacua, to their offseason roster.

This will be Samson’s second shot to make an NFL roster. He was signed by the Colts as an undrafted rookie in 2022, one year before his brother Puka entered the league. He was cut that offseason and spent the 2024 season playing for the UFL’s Michigan Panthers alongside his other brother, Kai.

Like Puka, Samson played at BYU in college. After five years at Utah from 2016-2020, he transferred to BYU for his senior year in 2021 where he was teammates with Puka.

Saints sign Samson Nacua, brother of Rams star Puka Nacua

The New Orleans Saints signed wide receiver Samson Nacua, the older brother of Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua:

More reinforcements are on the way for the New Orleans Saints. The black and gold announced Friday that they had signed wide receiver Samson Nacua, the older brother of Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua. He played at Utah for five years before transferring to BYU in 2021 where he got to play alongside his younger brother.

He’s taken a harder road to the NFL. Initially signed by the Indianapolis Colts as as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Nacua most recently suited up for the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers in 2023 and the UFL’s Michigan Panthers in 2024 after the spring league merged with the XFL.

The Saints were shorthanded in the receiving corps after injuries sidelined Cedrick Wilson Jr., Equanimeous St. Brown, and rookie draft pick Bub Means. In addition to Nacua, they re-signed Marquez Callaway, who spent last season on their practice squad. Backup quarterback Nathan Peterman was let go in a corresponding move.

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