'I Thought He Was Dead,' Jokes Sean McVay Of Los Angeles Rams Rookie Puka Nacua Record-Setting Day

'I Thought He Was Dead,' Jokes Sean McVay Of Los Angeles Rams Rookie Puka Nacua Record-Setting Day

For a moment there, it looked like Puka Nacua's Sunday was done. He's registered a 70-yard TD catch to trigger what would be a victory over the Cleveland Browns, part of a day in which the explosive rookie receiver would total four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, as well as two carries for 34 yards.

But there was an injury that caused Rams coach Sean McVay to issue a joke ... ever-so carefully.

“It was his shoulder and his rib; I thought he was dead and then he comes back to life,” McVay said, causing the room of reporters to chuckle ... and then causing the coach to add, “Can I say that anymore? I don’t know what I can say. But he is such a tough competitor. ...''

We get the joke. It's funny. It's OK.

And so are the Rams, who pulled themselves to 6-6 and into NFL playoff contention with a third straight win. ... keyed of course by lots of stellar performances but not exceeding Puka's when it comes to combining toughness with electricity.

Matthew Stafford must have been licking his chops when he saw this look from the Browns pre snap pic.twitter.com/ZGEogv8EUX

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) December 4, 2023

It was on a 20-yard catch in the first half when he got dinged up, trainers first tending to him and then escorting him to the locker room.

But after halftime? There he was again, ready for some more spectacular abuse.

LOUD NOISES!! BIG DUB!!

🗣️ @budlight Victory Speech pic.twitter.com/BPWk1ElDcZ

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 4, 2023

"The way he battles through things, the physicality at which he plays this game. He brings an energy to our team that I think you can all feel when you watch,'' McVay said. "It’s why he’s so fun as a competitor, whether he’s got the ball, whether he doesn’t have the ball.”

Nacua is the first rookie in Rams history to record 1,000 yards receiving. ... a result of skill and toughness as exemplified by a performance in a game in which for a moment he felt like he "wasn’t breathing” and his shoulder “didn’t feel like it was in the right place. ...

"But I was good, though.''