Rams’ Puka Nacua Jokes He ‘Aged 25 Years’ During Standout NFL Rookie Season

Erin WalshFebruary 10, 2024

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is likely looking forward to some rest and relaxation ahead of the 2024 NFL season following a taxing rookie campaign.

Nacua, who had a record-setting 2023 season, made a Super Bowl week appearance on PFT Live to discuss his dominant campaign with the Rams. When asked how he was feeling following his debut season, he joked that he feels much older than 22.

Nacua said, per ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio:

“Old, like I aged 25 years. It’s been a really long year and then those 18 weeks just really lasted a long time, but it was nice to lay down on my bed and . . . not wake up at 6:00 in the morning and be like, ‘Alright, I gotta go hit the cold tub and the ice tub to start the body going.’ So I laid down flat, got all the extra pillows stuffed up between my shoulders and stuff was like, ‘I’m going to sleep in today.'”The Rams selected Nacua in the fifth round of the 2023 draft out of BYU and he emerged as one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL during his rookie season, catching 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games en route to a Pro Bowl selection.

The only players to have more receiving yards than Nacua in 2023 were veteran wide receivers Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Nacua’s 105 catches and 1,486 yards are also NFL rookie records.

Miami Dolphins wideout Jaylen Waddle previously held the record for catches with 104 as a rookie in 2021 and former Houston Oilers receiver Bill Groman held the record for yards with 1,473 in 1960.

Given his performance in 2023, Nacua will likely have much larger expectations entering the 2024 campaign, and rightfully so.