Rams WR Puka Nacua Makes NFL History on Thursday

Nacua's 14-yard catch and run against the 49ers on Thursday put him into some elite company. He tied Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson for the second-fastest player in NFL history to reach the 3,000 receiving yards mark, doing so in 33 games.

The pair of Nacua and Jefferson trails only former New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who achieved this feat in 30 career games.

“WR Puka Nacua has reached 3000 career yards, that ties Justin Jefferson for the second fasted, in 33 games played. Odell Beckham Jr achieved that milestone faster in 30 games when he played with the NY Giants,” wrote Nick Hamilton of Nitecast Media.

Nacua was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Rams after spending his first two collegiate seasons with the Washington Huskies and his final two years with the BYU Cougars.

He burst onto the scene in his first NFL season, being selected to the Pro Bowl and finishing second in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting after catching 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. Last year, Nacua's numbers dropped just a bit, as he had 79 receptions for 990 yards and three touchdowns. This is because he only appeared in 11 games.

This year, Nacua has been back to his sensational rookie form, as he has caught 52 passes for 588 yards and two touchdowns. These 52 receptions are the most in a team's first five games in NFL history.

Jefferson, with whom Nacua is tied, has been one of the league's premier receivers since entering the NFL in 2020. He has been selected to four Pro Bowls and won the 2022 AP Offensive Player of the Year award. In his career, Jefferson has 517 receptions for 7,758 yards and 41 touchdowns.

As for Beckham, he played 10 years in the NFL, most notably with the Giants. He had an incredible first three years in the league, helping him eclipse the 3,000-yard mark. Beckham had 288 receptions in those seasons for 4,122 yards and 35 touchdowns.