Locals in the NFL: Through 2 weeks, Puka Nacua is doing things never done by a rookie

AROUND THE SHIELD — In April, the Los Angeles Rams used a fifth-round pick to select BYU wide receiver Puka Nacua with the No. 177 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

Are there 176 players better than Nacua? Early results suggest not.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound receiver set an NFL rookie record Sunday in the Rams' 30-23 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, catching 15 passes for 147 yards to lead all receivers.

That's the most catches by a rookie in a single game in NFL history, surpassing the previous record of 14 held jointly by Washington's Roy Helu, Pittsburgh's Najee Harris and Giants running back Saquon Barkley.

But that wasn't the only record Nacua broke.

With back-to-back 100-yard receiving games, Nacua set an NFL record for most receptions by a rookie in their first two games of the season. The former Orem High star who played at Washington before transferring home to play with his older brother Samson at BYU is the first player in NFL history with 10 receptions and 100 yards receiving in each of his first two pro games.

"He's a stud," Rams coach Sean McVay said of Nacua. "The game makes sense to him, physically and mentally. Tough. He works really hard. … He's very inquisitive, he asks a lot of questions, and he has great guys to lean on."

Added Nacua to reporters in the Rams' locker room: "I just think about the veteran guys that have invested time in me, and I've invested time in myself. This is a dream come true for me to be here in the National Football League, and I try to make sure I live up to that standard every day."

Nacua was targeted 20 times by Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who completed 34-of-55 passes for 307 yards and a touchdown

But the Niners' defense was too good, intercepting Stafford twice with a defensive effort that included a sack from former BYU standout Fred Warner.

Warner, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and first-team All-Pro linebacker, wasn't to be outdone by a fellow BYU alum. He finished with 11 tackles, including nine solo stops, in the 49ers' win.

But Nacua showed he's here to stay in the league and with the Rams, who will be without Cooper Kupp after the standout wide receiver was placed on injured reserve for at least the first four weeks of the season. Nacua's 25 receptions through two games shattered the previous NFL rookie record of 19 set by San Francisco's Earl Cooper in 1980.

"He's the epitome of what we want to be as Rams," McVay said of Nacua. "I love Puka Nacua, and I was really pleased with him today."

Here are a few other breakout performances from former local high school and college football players in Week 2 of the 2023 NFL regular season:

• Former Judge Memorial linebacker Kaden Elliss had a team-high six tackles and a sack to help the Atlanta Falcons to a 25-24 win over the Green Bay Packers.
• Former Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid caught five passes for 43 yards in the Buffalo Bills' 38-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
• Former Brighton High and Utah linebacker Cody Barton posted a team-best 10 tackles and two quarterback hurries, and recovered a fumble in the Washington Commanders' 35-33 win over the Denver Broncos.

Below is a complete list of former Utah-based players from around the league. Remember that there are two Monday night games this week, one between New Orleans and Carolina and another between Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

Monday Night Football

New Orleans 20, Carolina 17

Saints (2-0)

• Taysom Hill, QB/TE, BYU: Started as a second quarterback and ran for a team-high 75 yards on nine carries, completed a pass for 8 yards, and caught a pass for negative-1 yard on offense.
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Starting running back ran for 29 yards on nine carries
• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams.
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Reserve receiver caught four passes for 63 yards on offense, returned one punt for 16 yards with three fair catches, and returned two kickoffs for 47 yards on special teams.

Panthers (0-2)

• Brady Christensen, OG, BYU/Bountiful: Placed on injured reserve (biceps).

Pittsburgh 26, Cleveland 22

Steelers (1-1)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back ran for 20 yards on six carries and caught four passes for 66 yards on offense.
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety played mostly on special teams.

Browns (1-1)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker totaled two tackles, a sack, and possibly the league's greatest sack-dance celebration on defense.
• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams.
• Siaki Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Inactive for Week 2.

Sunday Night Football

Miami 24, New England 17

Dolphins (2-0)

• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Played mostly on special teams.

Patriots (0-2)

• No locals on the active roster.

Sunday afternoon

Atlanta 25, Green Bay 24

Falcons (2-0)

• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker had team-high six tackles and a sack on defense.
• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Starting running back ran for 48 yards on 16 carries on offense.
• Clark Phillips II, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback played mostly special teams.

Packers (1-1)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 14-of-25 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns with three sacks taken; ran twice for 23 yards on offense.
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State/BYU: Reserve safety played mostly on special teams.
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Inactive for Week 2.

Buffalo 38, Las Vegas 10

Bills (1-1)

• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Starting tight end caught five passes for 43 yards on offense.
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting cornerback made four tackles on defense.

Raiders (1-1)

• Andre James, C, Herriman (via UCLA): Started at center on offense.

Baltimore 27, Cincinnati 24

Ravens (2-0)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Inactive for Week 2.
• Marcus Williams, FS, Utah: Inactive for Week 2.

Bengals (0-2)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve cornerback played mostly on special teams.
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Active, but did not play in Week 2.

Seattle 37, Detroit 31

Seahawks (1-1)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker totaled 10 tackles on defense.

Lions (1-1)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Started at left tackle on offense.

Indianapolis 31, Houston 20

Colts (1-1)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Reserve tackle also played on special teams.
• Julian Blackmon, SS, Utah/Layton: Starting strong safety made 10 tackles.
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Booted a 42-yard field goal, four extra points and six kickoffs.
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Starting running back ran for a game-high 88 yards on 18 carries, including an 11-yard touchdown, on offense.

Texans (0-2)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Reserve tight end caught four passes for 34 yards.

Kansas City 17, Jacksonville 9

Chiefs (1-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Jaguars (1-1)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had a team-high 11 tackles and two pass breakups on defense.

Tampa Bay 27, Chicago 17

Buccaneers (2-0)

• Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State: Starting wide receiver ran for 11 yards on one carry on offense, returned two punts for 7 yards with a fumble on special teams.

Bears (0-2)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting defensive back made four tackles and forced a fumble on defense.
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played eight snaps on special teams.
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle on offense.
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker had a tackle and a forced fumble on special teams.

Tennessee 27, LA Chargers 24

Titans (1-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Chargers (0-2)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Reserve cornerback had three tackles and a tackle for loss on defense.
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety made six tackles, including three solo stops, on defense.

NY Giants 31, Arizona 28

Giants (1-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Cardinals (0-2)

• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Inactive for Week 2.

San Francisco 30, Los Angeles 23

49ers (2-0)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had 11 tackles, a sack, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hit on defense.
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted four times for 197 yards for 49.3 yards per punt with one touchback and two punts downed inside the 20 on special teams.

Rams (1-1)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting wide receiver caught game-high 15 passes for 147 yards, ran twice for four yards on offense.
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Starting defensive end made five tackles on defense.

Dallas 30, NY Jets 10

Cowboys (2-0)

• No locals on the active roster.

Jets (1-1)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Starting quarterback completed 12-of-27 passes for 170 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions with three sacks taken and team-high five rushes for 36 yards on offense.

Washington 35, Denver 33

Commanders (2-0)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting middle linebacker posted team-high 10 tackles, two quarterback hurries and recovered a fumble on defense.
• Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State/Jordan: Reserve offensive lineman.

Broncos (0-2)

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle on offense.

Thursday Night Football

Philadelphia 34, Minnesota 28

Eagles (2-0)

• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Returned one punt for 2 yards with a fumble in four snaps on special teams
• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Reserve lineman played seven snaps on special teams

Vikings (0-2)

• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Inactive for Week 2.
• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Reserve defensive tackle played 12 snaps on defense, seven more on special teams.

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