After an incredible start to the season for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, his blistering pace cooled off as he started to return to earth. Despite the Rams being the better team through two quarters against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC West showdown, Nacua has been effectively missing in the Rams’ Week 11 matchup.
Here’s everything to know about the All-Pro wideout’s slow start against the Seahawks.
What Happened to Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua?
Through two quarters against the Seahawks, Nacua has been targeted just once by Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, and he caught the pass for 10 yards. While it’s been evident that the game plan revolved around the rushing attack with Kyren Williams turning six carries into 76 yards and a touchdown, getting practically nothing from the passing game was a little surprising.
Stafford completed seven of 13 pass attempts for 50 yards and a touchdown, with the average completion going a measly 3.8 yards. The Rams are holding onto a 14-9 lead over their NFC West foe, but it’s not nearly as comfortable a lead as they would hope.
Through eight games in 2025, Nacua has hauled in 66 of his 79 targets, gaining 775 yards and scoring four touchdowns. He’s also turned four carries into 55 yards and another touchdown. Through the first four games of the season, Nacua was averaging 10.5 receptions and 125.8 yards per game, and an absolutely unreal pace.
Nacua has the second-highest score in PFSN’s NFL WR Impact (WRi) rating, earning a 98.0, just .8 behind the best receiver in the NFL, Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Wide Receiver Impact assigns a numerical score and letter grade to an individual WR’s performance. It factors in the receiver’s efficiency and share of his team’s targets while also including proprietary yards after catch over expected and receptions over expected metrics.
His high grade absolutely factors into the Rams’ high rating in PFSN’s NFL Offense Impact, as the 90.0 score makes them the second-highest rated offense behind the surprisingly good Indianapolis Colts offense, which is rated at 94.2.
The Rams and Seahawks have looked like two of the NFC’s best contenders with their dominant runs to start the season. This makes their first meeting of the 2025 season even more critical as both franchises look to gain the edge on the divisional tiebreaker. It’s going to be quite the battle down the stretch as these two rivals seem very evenly matched in a close rivalry game. Can Nacua come to life and give the Rams a leg up?
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.