When the Los Angeles Rams placed star wide receiver Cooper Kupp on injured reserve, his absence easily could have derailed the season. But instead, the emergence of rookie receiver Puka Nacua has been one of the great and unexpected stories through four weeks of the NFL season.
And on Sunday, Puka had himself a game to remember. He just nearly missed head coach Sean McVay’s presentation of the game ball.
In the Rams’ 29-23 overtime win over the Colts, Nacua hauled in nine receptions for 163 yards and had his first NFL touchdown come on the overtime winner. In the immediate postgame aftermath, Nacua was caught up in interviews and had to run to the locker room as the rest of the team was already listening to the victory speech.
He got there literally just in time.
#Rams WR Puka Nacua was still trying to make it back to the locker room when HC Sean McVay was giving out game balls, which included one for Nacua.
McVay: "Where's Puka Nacua at?"
… And then he comes in and the team goes crazy. Love it.
(📽️ @RamsNFL)pic.twitter.com/t7suKL5m2u
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 2, 2023
McVay was looking for Nacua and had no idea that the receiver wasn’t in the room yet. That was when he made his grand entrance, and the team had the most wholesome reaction as Nacua ran to receive the game ball.
No wonder NFL fans enjoyed that video. Everything about it was great.
This was how Twitter reacted
Love this and Sean McVay looks so fun to play for https://t.co/CYmxxqyhDv
— Freezing Cold in Miami (@in_freezing) October 2, 2023
Best story of the NFL this season. https://t.co/Vqgvxvpwwr
— Cameron Demler (@CJD22K) October 2, 2023
Literally impossible not to cheer on this guy https://t.co/RvlScapLBX
— Michael Schebel (@schebster18) October 2, 2023
I’m witnessing greatness 🥲 https://t.co/nhrEqufkx7
— zeus (@NYGzeus) October 2, 2023
Love this kid https://t.co/iwwtMjyfHz
— Eric (@eric__jf) October 2, 2023
More Puka content please https://t.co/HS5V2GKDjE
— The Fantasy Fanatics (@TheFFFanatics3) October 2, 2023
You love to see this type of love in a locker room https://t.co/bLOrzNys7H
— Monchi™ (@Monchi_FL_11) October 2, 2023
How can you not like this kid?!?? https://t.co/fML1mWPldD
— Evers (@A_Evers) October 2, 2023
That gotta be such a great feeling man https://t.co/Seey2Dx5Q0
— Still I Rise 🙏🏾 (@MGambit7) October 2, 2023
