Latest news with #Nacua
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Rams' Puka Nacua is learning a lot from new teammate Davante Adams
Puka Nacua is using organized team activities to hone his craft and prepare for his third NFL season. But the Rams' star receiver also recently took time to help others prepare to avoid potential health challenges. Advertisement Nacua last week returned from a trip to Samoa, where he and his mother joined medical professionals from Utah Valley University to provide testing, clinics and education about diabetes. Nacua said his father, who died when Nacua was a youngster, experienced complications from the disease. So the opportunity to travel with his mother to his maternal grandmother's village was 'kind of a full-circle moment' for his family, Nacua said Tuesday. 'To be able to go and improve the situation in the homeland was something sweet,' Nacua said after the team went through a workout. Nacua, who missed the Rams' first on-field workout because of the trip, appeared to be at full strength Tuesday, with no evidence of the knee injury he fought through last season. Advertisement Nacua is part of a remade Rams receiver corps that is expected to elevate the offense for a team regarded as a Super Bowl contender. Read more: Rams expanding markets, beginning with minicamp in Hawaii The Rams released veteran Cooper Kupp, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and replaced him with three-time All-Pro Davante Adams. They also re-signed Tutu Atwell to a one-year, $10-million contract. Second-year pro Jordan Whittington and rookie Konata Mumpfield also are competing for roles. 'It definitely is a little bit different,' Nacua said of Kupp's absence from the receivers' meeting room. 'The spot he used to sit in, I think, it's definitely occupied by somebody now, so everybody's getting used to it.' Advertisement But Nacua said Adams, who was absent Tuesday, has come in and provided leadership. 'Somebody who's played at a super high level his whole career — and the knowledge he has is something different from what we're used to, having Coop in the system a long time,' Nacua said. 'It's been great to have him around and I feel like I'm learning something new every day.' Nacua, 24, proved a quick study after the Rams selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 draft out of Brigham Young. With Kupp sidelined at the start of the season because of injury, Nacua became quarterback Matthew Stafford's primary target. Nacua enjoyed a record-setting season, catching 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. He was a finalist for the NFL offensive rookie of the year. Advertisement During training camp before last season, Nacua suffered a knee injury during a joint workout with the Chargers. He then aggravated the issue in the opener against the Detroit Lions, and was sidelined for five games. He still caught 79 passes for 990 yards and three touchdowns for a Rams team that finished with a 10-7 record and advanced to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs before losing to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles. Read more: Sean McVay dug deep in his bag of tricks to persuade Davante Adams to sign with Rams Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said Nacua was 'continuing to work on his craft,' during organized team activities. 'He's naturally just a leader,' LaFleur said. 'Just the way he goes about it.' Advertisement In a few weeks, Nacua will play a prominent role for the Rams when they travel to Maui for a minicamp that will conclude voluntary offseason workouts. Nacua, who also is of Hawaiian descent, is expected to be warmly embraced by the locals during some activities that will be open to the public. 'I'm excited,' he said. 'I can't wait for everybody to come out there and have some shaved ice. I'm sure they'll be waiting for us.' Etc. The Rams have four coaches working with them during organized team activities as part of the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching fellowship program. The coaches are Taylor Embree (tight ends), Chris Marve (defensive backs), Va'a Niumatalolo (outside linebackers) and Greg Stewart (offensive line). Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
7 hours ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Rams' Puka Nacua is learning a lot from new teammate Davante Adams
Puka Nacua is using organized team activities to hone his craft and prepare for his third NFL season. But the Rams' star receiver also recently took time to help others prepare to avoid potential health challenges. Nacua last week returned from a trip to Samoa, where he and his mother joined medical professionals from Utah Valley University to provide testing, clinics and education about diabetes. Nacua said his father, who died when Nacua was a youngster, experienced complications from the disease. So the opportunity to travel with his mother to his maternal grandmother's village was 'kind of a full-circle moment' for his family, Nacua said Tuesday. 'To be able to go and improve the situation in the homeland was something sweet,' Nacua said after the team went through a workout. Nacua, who missed the Rams' first on-field workout because of the trip, appeared to be at full strength Tuesday, with no evidence of the knee injury he fought through last season. Nacua is part of a remade Rams receiver corps that is expected to elevate the offense for a team regarded as a Super Bowl contender. The Rams released veteran Cooper Kupp, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and replaced him with three-time All-Pro Davante Adams. They also re-signed Tutu Atwell to a one-year, $10-million contract. Second-year pro Jordan Whittington and rookie Konata Mumpfield also are competing for roles. 'It definitely is a little bit different,' Nacua said of Kupp's absence from the receivers' meeting room. 'The spot he used to sit in, I think, it's definitely occupied by somebody now, so everybody's getting used to it.' But Nacua said Adams, who was absent Tuesday, has come in and provided leadership. 'Somebody who's played at a super high level his whole career — and the knowledge he has is something different from what we're used to, having Coop in the system a long time,' Nacua said. 'It's been great to have him around and I feel like I'm learning something new every day.' Nacua, 24, proved a quick study after the Rams selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 draft out of Brigham Young. With Kupp sidelined at the start of the season because of injury, Nacua became quarterback Matthew Stafford's primary target. Nacua enjoyed a record-setting season, catching 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. He was a finalist for the NFL offensive rookie of the year. During training camp before last season, Nacua suffered a knee injury during a joint workout with the Chargers. He then aggravated the issue in the opener against the Detroit Lions, and was sidelined for five games. He still caught 79 passes for 990 yards and three touchdowns for a Rams team that finished with a 10-7 record and advanced to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs before losing to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said Nacua was 'continuing to work on his craft,' during organized team activities. 'He's naturally just a leader,' LaFleur said. 'Just the way he goes about it.' In a few weeks, Nacua will play a prominent role for the Rams when they travel to Maui for a minicamp that will conclude voluntary offseason workouts. Nacua, who also is of Hawaiian descent, is expected to be warmly embraced by the locals during some activities that will be open to the public. 'I'm excited,' he said. 'I can't wait for everybody to come out there and have some shaved ice. I'm sure they'll be waiting for us.' The Rams have four coaches working with them during organized team activities as part of the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching fellowship program. The coaches are Taylor Embree (tight ends), Chris Marve (defensive backs), Va'a Niumatalolo (outside linebackers) and Greg Stewart (offensive line).
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Here's why Puka Nacua was excused from Rams' first OTA for a 'pretty cool opportunity'
Here's why Puka Nacua was excused from Rams' first OTA for a 'pretty cool opportunity' Nacua had a trip planned with his mom months ago, so he was excused from Day 1 of OTAs Puka Nacua was absent from the Los Angeles Rams' first day of OTAs on Wednesday, but it's not anything that caught the team off guard. In fact, Sean McVay knew for months that Nacua wouldn't be able to attend the start of OTAs. After the team's first practice on Wednesday, McVay shed some light on the reason for Nacua's excused absence. He said the receiver had a 'pretty cool opportunity' to travel with his mom, which Nacua has shared photos and videos of on his Instagram story recently. Nacua was getting back on Wednesday, which is why he missed practice, but he'll be participating in everything moving forward. 'Oh yeah, this was months ago,' McVay said. 'He's traveling with his family, pretty cool opportunity. Got to be able to go travel with his mom. He was getting back today. He'll be here so he's done a great job of communicating a couple months ago.' One of the places Nacua posted on Instagram during his travels was Samoa, which is a special place for him being of Samoan descent. Though he grew up in Provo, Utah, he's proud of his Polynesian heritage so traveling back to where his family is from was likely incredible for him and his mom. Now that he's back in Los Angeles, expect to see Nacua on the field with his teammates again. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Quentin Lake thinks Rams' 2025 offense will be 'reminiscent of Greatest Show on Turf'
Quentin Lake thinks Rams' 2025 offense will be 'reminiscent of Greatest Show on Turf' Talk about a bold claim from the Rams DB It'd be safe to say the Los Angeles Rams' offense underachieved in 2024. With Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp and Kyren Williams surrounding Matthew Stafford, it was supposed to be a big year on that side of the ball. The Rams finished the year ranked 20th in points scored and 15th in total yards, a far cry from 2023 when they were eighth and seventh, respectively. Heading into the 2025 season, a bounce-back is expected. Davante Adams joins Nacua to give the Rams a fantastic wide receiver duo, while Terrance Ferguson steps in at tight end to provide another pass-catching threat. Kupp isn't there anymore but Tutu Atwell, Nacua, Williams and Blake Corum are all still in the mix. Quentin Lake has high expectations for that group, making a bold statement while on NFL Network recently. In raving about Adams and what he brings to the offense, Lake said the Rams could be reminiscent of the Greatest Show on Turf era when St. Louis led the league in scoring and yards three years in a row. 'He's a fantastic player. He's been doing it year in and year out, and you can kind of tell he's adding value not only what he does as a player, but as a mentor to the younger guys, too,' Lake said of Adams. 'Teaching these guys how to attack defensive leverages, what to do at the top of the routes. I still think he's one of the best route-runners in the NFL and there's a reason Sean McVay was very adamant about getting him. He just kind of unlocks things in the offense and obviously, we've got our future Hall of Famer Matthew Stafford over there. I expect big things because you got Puka on one end, Davante on the other, Tutu Atwell does a fantastic job, too. So we have all the weapons we need, and then Kyren in the backfield. It's going to be reminiscent of the Greatest Show on Turf. I hope we bring that back this year.' As talented as the Rams are on paper, no one should expect them to replicate the production from that 1999-2001 era when everything looked so easy offensively. Nacua and Adams should put up big numbers and Atwell could be poised for a breakout as the No. 3 receiver, but the Greatest Show on Turf had three Hall of Famers at quarterback, running back and wide receiver in Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce. Torry Holt isn't a Hall of Famer (yet) but he's an all-time great who should be enshrined in Canton already. Lake's confidence is admirable and encouraging, but he might need to take his expectations down just one notch.
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-NFL player picks Rams WR Puka Nacua for hypothetical 2-on-2 basketball game
Ex-NFL player picks Rams WR Puka Nacua for hypothetical 2-on-2 basketball game Puka Nacua's basketball reputation is growing. Former NFL linebacker and current NFL Network analyst Manti Te'o said he would pick Nacua as his partner in a hypothetical 2-on-2 basketball game versus Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and NBA legend Allen Iverson. "This guy did score a lot of points in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game," Te'o said. "If you've ever watched Puka Nacua play basketball, the uso can ball." (For reference, "uso" is a Samoan word meaning "brother." Te'o and Nacua are Samoan). The Los Angeles Rams receiver is a big basketball fan. Nacua put up 16 points, four rebounds and four assists in the Celebrity Game, as Te'o mentioned. Nacua also said he'd play basketball overseas when he retires from the NFL. So, if Te'o really needed a partner, he could pick worse players than Nacua.
