The Los Angeles Rams’ offense has gotten much better since Puka Nacua returned from his knee injury and it’s no coincidence. After putting up record-setting numbers as a rookie last year, he’s been just as good this season, if not better.
In only nine games, he’s racked up 805 yards and three touchdowns. That includes two games where he exited before halftime due to a knee injury and ejection. He’s improved in just about every area, from success rate (56.9% to 65.1%) to yards per target (9.3 to 9.7).
He’s even averaging more yards per game (89.4) than he averaged last season (87.4) when he had 1,486 yards. That means if he were healthy all year, he’d be on track to eclipse 1,500 yards receiving.
Perhaps the most telling stat when it comes to Nacua’s efficiency is his 3.53 yards per route run. According to Pro Football Focus, it’s the third-highest rate of any player since 2006 when PFF started tracking the stat, trailing only Steve Smith Sr. (2008) and Tyreek Hill (2023).
Single season yards per route run leaders (since 2006):
🥇 Steve Smith – 3.87 (2008)
🥈 Tyreek Hill – 3.82 (2023)
🥉 PUKA NACUA – 3.53 (2024 through Week 15) pic.twitter.com/Fr4taHGuXg— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) December 19, 2024
Even in an offense with Cooper Kupp and Kyren Williams both healthy, there’s no question who the go-to playmaker is for the Rams. Nacua impacts the game as a receiver and a blocker, making him one of the most well-rounded players in football.
He’s well on his way to climbing the NFL record books if he can stay on the field and avoid injuries during his career.
