Rams’ Puka Nacua says he won’t back down from physical play against Dolphins

Rams receiver Puka Nacua (17) mixed it up with the Seahawks’ Tyrel Dodson (0) after a play. (Stephen Brashear / Associated Press)

The punch — the one that got Puka Nacua ejected against the Seattle Seahawks — is in the past, if not completely forgotten.

Nacua will no doubt hear from the NFL this week about a fine, but the Rams’ star receiver otherwise has moved on.

“I try to definitely put that one behind me,” Nacua said Friday after practice.

On Monday night, Nacua aims to be on the field for the entire game against the Miami Dolphins at SoFi Stadium.

Will the physical and verbal Nacua be gun-shy about engaging defensive players?

Read more: As Matthew Stafford passes QBs in record books, he’s thrown Rams into playoff race

“I don’t think so,” he said, adding that by being around teammates such as edge rushers Byron Young and Jared Verse and linebacker Omar Speights, “everybody’s always ready to pack a punch.

“So it’s nice to get back in there and be like, ‘Man, everybody’s willing to hit.’ It’s just being a little extra aware of some of the thoughts after the play where people are like, ‘Ah, I’m going to take my opportunity.’”

Nacua, who enjoyed a record-setting rookie season in 2023, has played only one full game this season.

After suffering a right-knee sprain during a joint practice with the Chargers, he aggravated the injury during the opener against the Detroit Lions. Nacua sat out five games on injured reserve before returning on Oct. 24 against the Minnesota Vikings and catching seven passes for 106 yards.

A few days before last Sunday’s game at Seattle, however, Nacua fell hard on the knee and left practice. He recovered in time to play against the Seahawks, and caught one pass for 11 yards before he was ejected in the second quarter for punching linebacker Tyrel Dodson after an interception.

Rams receiver Puka Nacua (17) got into an altercation after this interception by Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen. (Stephen Brashear /…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-puka-nacua-says-wont-030209840.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-11-09 03:02:09

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