Puka Nacua had a productive preseason debut for the Los Angeles Rams over the weekend, catching three passes for 32 yards and a touchdown. Following the rookie’s positive performance against the Los Angeles Chargers, Mike LaFleur detailed what he wants to see from Nacua in joint practices with the Las Vegas Raiders this week.
“Just keep building on what he’s doing. He is going against first-team defense every single day,” LaFleur said. “Going into his 11th practice and training camp and then dating back to OTAs. So again, not making anything up. Continue to build on what he’s doing. Giving him a little bit more inventory every day like we’re giving everybody else, just getting ourselves prepared for that first game in September.”
In the preseason opener versus the Chargers, Nacua finished with three receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown on five targets. The touchdown was an 11-yard reception between a couple of defenders on fellow rookie Stetson Bennett’s first offensive drive under center.
Since the start of OTAs and rookie minicamp, Nacua has continued to impress the coaching staff and other players on the Rams. Nacua is currently competing for the No. 3 spot at wide receiver behind Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson.
Sean McVay and LaFleur haven’t held back on giving Nacua more and more to process as he’s gotten plenty of snaps with the first-team offense in practice. Ahead of joint practices and a preseason matchup with the Raiders, LaFleur and the Rams just want Nacua to simply keep doing what he’s been doing thus far: improving every single day.
