Locals in the NFL: Puka Nacua scores 1st TD of season, still living dream with Rams

AROUND THE SHIELD — Puka Nacua's third season in the NFL started hot a week ago, when the former Orem High and BYU receiver caught 10 passes for 130 yards.

On Sunday, he got a touchdown to go with it.

Nacua caught eight passes for 91 yards in the Los Angeles Rams' 33-19 win over the Tennessee Titans, the second-most on the team behind Davante Adams (more on that in a moment).

The win pushed Nacua above 200 career receptions in just 30 games — tied for the fastest receiver to 200 catches in NFL history, with former Giants star Odell Beckham Jr.

But on the sixth play of Los Angeles' opening drive, the son of Penina and the late Lionel Nacua took a handoff from quarterback Matthew Stafford and rumbled 45 yards into the end zone for his first touchdown of the season.

A week ago, Nacua became the fastest player in franchise history to surpass 2,500 career receiving yards, a record that has stood since (then-St. Louis) Rams star Torry Holt retired in 2009.

But there was another moment in Sunday's game that Nacua could only describe as surreal.

Among Adams' game-high six catches for 106 yards was a 16-yard touchdown from Stafford during a 20-0 run in the second half that turned a 16-13 deficit into a 33-16 advantage.

"It's just awesome to have two talented guys that complement each other so well out there," Stafford told reporters from the podium Sunday.

After the touchdown, Nacua — who grew up a big Packers fan in large part because of Adams — found the six-time Pro Bowl pass catcher in the end zone to flex together, a moment captured by Rams team photographers.

"(If) you would have said that when I was in high school," Nacua said, "I'd be like, 'You're crazy.'"

Monday Night Football

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Chargers (1-0)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman High (via UCLA)
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem High (via Notre Dame)

Raiders (1-0)

• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Corner Canyon High (via Oregon)
• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman High

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans

Buccaneers (1-0)

• No locals on the active roster

Texans (0-1)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham High (via Stanford)

Sunday Night Football

Atlanta 22, Minnesota 6

Falcons (1-1)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries, including a 5-yard scoring plunge to put the game away in the fourth quarter
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker totaled four tackles and a quarterback hit on defense
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Inactive for Week 2

Vikings (1-1)

• No locals on the active roster

Sunday afternoon

Philadelphia 20, Kansas City 17

Eagles (2-0)

• No locals on the active roster

Chiefs (0-2)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OG, BYU/Orem High: Started at left guard on offense
• Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Kearns High (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker made two tackles on special teams
• Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State: Inactive for Week 2

Indianapolis 29, Denver 28

Colts (2-0)

• No locals on the active roster

Broncos (1-1)

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake High: Started at left tackle on offense
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker had a tackle, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit on defense
• Karene Reid, LB, Utah/Timpview High: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams

Baltimore 41, Cleveland 17

Ravens (1-1)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had one tackle, a quarterback hit before exiting with hamstring injury

Browns (0-2)

• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on kick return

Cincinnati 31, Jacksonville 27

Bengals (2-0)

• Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted three times for 166 yards (155.3 yards per punt) with two punts downed inside the 20

Jaguars (1-1)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had two tackles, a quarterback and an interception on defense
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Reserve receiver was targeted once on offense

Dallas 40, New York 37 (OT)

Cowboys (1-1)

• No locals on the active roster

Giants (0-2)

• Jaxson Dart, QB, Corner Canyon/Roy High (via Ole Miss): Made NFL regular-season debut, finished with one rush for loss of 3 yards

Detroit 52, Chicago 21

Lions (1-1)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills High (via Oregon): Started at right tackle
• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Inactive for Week 2

Bears (0-2)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback made two tackles before leaving with an injury (groin)
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray High: Started at left tackle
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem High (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker totaled four tackles, including a tackle for loss on defense

New England 33, Miami 27

Patriots (1-1)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger High: Reserve defensive tackle also played on special teams

Dolphins (0-2)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon High: Active, but did not play

San Francisco 26, New Orleans 21

49ers (2-0)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker totaled 11 tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass defender, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on defense

Saints (0-2)

• Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: Reserve safety also played on special teams
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Starting wide receiver caught one pass, a 3-yard touchdown
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Starting wide receiver caught four passes for 39 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown, and returned two punts for 23 yards with two fair catches
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive lineman also played on special teams

Buffalo 30, New York 10

Bills (2-0)

• Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Starting safety had a team-high five tackles, including a sack on defense
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Reserve tight end caught four passes for 37 yards on offense
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Inactive for Week 2
• Jackson Hawes, TE, Highland High (via Yale/Georgia Tech): Reserve tight end caught one pass for five yards

Jets (0-2)

• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham High (via USC): Inactive for Week 2

Seattle 31, Pittsburgh 17

Seahawks (1-1)

• Connor O'Toole, LB, Utah: Inactive for Week 2

Steelers (1-1)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East High (via Oklahoma State): Starting running back ran for a team-high 48 yards on 14 carries, and caught team-high four passes for 86 yards on offense
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety made two tackles on special teams

Los Angeles 33, Tennessee 19

Rams (2-0)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem High: Starting wide receiver caught eight passes for 91 yards, and ran for a 45-yard touchdown on offense

Titans (0-2)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton High: Starting linebacker had five tackles and an interception on defense

Thursday Night Football

Green Bay 27, Washington 18

Packers (2-0)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 19-of-31 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 12 yards on three carries with two sacks taken
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury High: Inactive for Week 2
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back caught three passes for 27 yards in 13 offensive snaps

Commanders (1-1)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting middle linebacker posted game-high 11 tackles in 68 defensive snaps
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem High: Converted a 51-yard field goal and one PAT in eight snaps on special teams
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Inactive for Week 2

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