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Puka Nacua stole the present. Davante Adams was a supporting participant.
That was the story for the star receivers within the Rams’ season-opening victory over the Houston Texans.
Nobody was complaining.
Besides, maybe, fantasy soccer gamers who drafted Adams.
“That’s not within the forefront of my thoughts,” Adams, chuckling, mentioned this week. “I do know they assume it’s. I’m simply out right here attempting to win video games and contribute and make performs once I can.”
Nacua disregarded a minimize above his eye that required stitches and caught 10 passes for 130 yards. Adams, making his Rams debut, caught 4 passes for 51 yards.
Because the season progresses — beginning with Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Tennessee Titans in Nashville — coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford are apt to even out the targets.
“I’m enthusiastic about having the ability to study — and it’s a superb factor to have the ability to determine get these guys concerned,” McVay mentioned because the Rams ready for a Titans (0-1) group that might be enjoying its dwelling opener.
Nissan Stadium in Nashville was the setting for one of many first huge moments of McVay’s tenure.
In 2017, McVay’s first season, the Rams clinched the NFC West with a victory over the Titans made attainable by then-rookie receiver Cooper Kupp’s diving landing catch.
Final March, a number of days after they agreed to phrases with the three-time All-Professional Adams, the Rams launched Kupp, the 2021 NFL offensive participant of the 12 months and most useful participant of Tremendous Bowl LVI.
Since final visiting Tennessee, the Rams have performed in two Tremendous Bowls and gained a title. They’ve been to the playoffs six occasions in McVay’s eight seasons.
With a deep and gifted roster, they’re considered Tremendous Bowl contenders.
However a lot of that rides on how McVay can mix Nacua and Adams.
“I assumed it was a superb begin,” McVay mentioned of the opener.
Rams broad receiver Puka Nacua evades a Houston Texans defender after making a catch in the course of the Rams’ win on Sept. 7.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Occasions)
Late within the first quarter in opposition to the Texans, Nacua caught a move for a primary down, after which left the sector and went to the locker room, the place he was evaluated for a concussion and obtained stitches.
“I felt like half my face had fallen off into my facemask that was all the way in which over right here,” Nacua mentioned, gesturing past his left shoulder.
However the third-year professional demonstrated his trademark toughness and returned.
Adams famous that Nacua “bounced up” after taking hits in opposition to the Texans, got here again after receiving stitches and continued to excel.
“It’s exhausting to cease a pit bull when you get going,” Adams mentioned. “That’s clearly what you get from any person like Puka.”
Or any person like Adams.
On the Rams’ third play, Adams absorbed a significant hit after changing a 3rd down, however he popped to his toes and pointed downfield, signaling first down.
That set the tone, Nacua mentioned.
“To present that exclamation level of being like, ‘All proper, we’re right here, we’re going to take your finest shot, and we’re going to face up and we’re going to get able to march the ball ahead,’” Nacua mentioned, including, “There’s a toughness that you simply earn the precise to play with within the NFL, and he positively has that.”
As does Nacua, who has mentioned that his bodily type was borne from competing in opposition to older brothers. These siblings pumped him up as a youth by slapping him exhausting on his shoulders throughout automotive rides to video games. Nacua had faculty teammates slap him on his shoulder pads earlier than every collection, and he recruited a number of Rams teammates to do the identical.
“It’s all the time good to get somewhat get up on the sideline earlier than you formally get hit by any person else on the market,” Nacua mentioned.
Rams receivers have a saying, Adams mentioned: “You possibly can’t stay without end.”
“Generally it’s important to go throughout the center and make that play,” he mentioned. “You possibly can’t simply let a ball soar previous your eyes simply since you’re in hurt’s means. It sounds type of loopy, however that’s what you signed up for once you need to be a receiver on this league.”
Within the opener, Adams and Nacua made pivotal performs for lengthy features.
Adams’ textbook back-shoulder catch alongside the left sideline netted 24 yards. It was the type of play the Rams envisioned after they paired Stafford, a Seventeenth-year professional who performed 12 seasons for the Detroit Lions, with Adams, a Twelfth-year professional who performed his first eight seasons with the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
“I do know he’s actually good at that type of stuff from enjoying in opposition to him and watching him do it and tormenting my group again within the day,” Stafford mentioned, laughing.
Stated Adams: “It’s a superb constructing block.”
Nacua caught a no-look move for 25 yards within the fourth quarter. Within the closing collection, he caught a brief move and clinched the victory by turning it right into a 24–yard acquire.
Which receiver will get the main position every week might be decided by how opponents try and cease them.
“I’m positive there’ll be occasions when he’s lighting it up and so they say, ‘All proper, let’s attempt to tilt over there, possibly we’ll cease that, see if that works,’” Adams mentioned. “Then I’ll be one-on-one and have much more alternatives as nicely.
“It’s an extended season and I believe everyone right here is aware of that.”
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