How Puka Nacua Embraced the Unexpected Role That Could Change the Rams’ Season Forever

When you first join a team stacked with talent like the Rams, it’s easy to find yourself in the shadows of a true maestro — in this case, Cooper Kupp, the undisputed guru of the wide receiver’s craft. But with Kupp no longer in the picture, Puka Nacua has found himself staring down a new reality: he’s now the most seasoned receiver in the huddle, the guy who really knows the ins and outs of Sean McVay’s complex offense. It’s a role that’s both exhilarating and a bit surreal for Nacua — who’s still wrapping his head around being the go-to veteran, the unofficial coach-on-the-field. Meanwhile, Davante Adams has stepped up as a vocal leader, but he’s still fresh in the Rams’ fold, leaving Nacua to bridge the experience gap with Matthew Stafford’s trusted target history firmly in hand. This shift isn’t just a change in playbook mastery; it’s a transformation in identity. And from where I’m sitting, those moments of uncertainty and growth? They’re where champions are truly forged. <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story//id/45450671/puka-nacua-davante-adams-los-angeles-rams-wr-adjust-cooper-kupp” target=”blank” rel=”noopener”>LEARN MORE

Nacua said Davante Adams has become a strong leader among the wide receivers, but Adams is new to the Rams. The receiver who has caught the most passes from Matthew Stafford, and spent the most time in Sean McVay’s offense, is Nacua. And that’s a new role for him.Rams wide receivers coach Eric Yarber now turns to Nacua when he wants an experienced player to explain something to a teammate, and Nacua is still adjusting to that.During his first two seasons with the Rams, Puka Nacua deferred to Cooper Kupp as the player who really understood a wide receiver’s role in the offense. Now that Kupp is gone, Nacua realizes there’s no wide receiver on the team who knows the offense better than he does.“It’s weird,” Nacua said, via Sarah Barshop of ESPN. “They’re asking me questions and I’m like, ‘Wait, Coach Yarbs, do you want me to answer this for real?’ I’m like, ‘I feel like I still have some of these similar questions.’ But it’s been good because it’s a teaching moment for me.”