(Video) Puka Nacua’s ridiculous ‘helmet catch’ makes case for contender of the year
Rams' second year wide receiver has an affinity of making ridiculous catches and on Thursday he used his opponent's helmet as a landing board to mark a reception.
Follow Us
Puka Nacua grabs hold of a catch using Niners helmet (Image via IMAGO/X)
Following a sluggish start to the season, Puka Nacua capped off a career game against the Buffalo Bills in week 14. Nacua used the same energy to pull off a memorable catch on Thursday while playing NFC West rivals the San Francisco 49ers.
The game was still in its infancy. With a little over five minutes played, Rams veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a back-of-the-shoulder pass aimed at Nacua. As the ball arrived at a very awkward angle, Nacua had to twist his body while avoiding the Niners’ marker.
It wasn’t enough, though, and he almost lost track of the ball until a 1000 IQ play saved the drive. Nacua used the back of the defender’s helmet as the base to protect the ball from touching the turf. The referee recognized the hold as a fair catch and the Rams pushed on.
Puka Nacua with a totally normal helmet catch. pic.twitter.com/BuDtHYD5nT
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 13, 2024
Puka Nacua has many admirers across the NFL
It’s hard not to like Nacua. The man from BYU has a charming personality with a smile as his greatest jewelry. On top of it, he can play; some might even vouch he is the rightful successor to Super Bowl winner Cooper Kupp.
Ever since bursting onto the scene in his rookie campaign, Nacua has been ever present in the Rams roster, barring a few games he missed due to injury. He has carried forward the same energy from last year to 2024, and it often shows up during games.
From one-handed catches to Michael Jackson-esque steps from going out of bounds, Nacua knows how to make good use of his build. He is a favorite of former Las Vegas Raiders’ boss Jon Gruden.
This Puka Nacua, he’s a vicious savage man when the game starts. He might be my favorite player in the league right now.
Jon Gruden said during a recent segment of the Locker Room
While Nacua’s numbers may not paint a clear picture, Gruden is spot-on about his assessment. The 23-year-old was a menace against the Bills. Even though the Rams’ defense gave up 38 points to the in-form Bills, a 12-reception, 162-yard (13.5 yards per catch) and 1-touchdown outing helped his team to score 42 points and secure a seventh win of the campaign.
Nacua played 8 games before facing the 49ers on Thursday. In those games, he caught a total of 57 passes for 708 yards (13.1 yards per catch) and scored 3 touchdowns.
Related: Tom Brady’s son Jack was one of the biggest factors in him joining the Bucs after Patriots exit
Stay Updated!
Ishan Misra
(3047 Articles Published)