Brother of Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua To Debut in UFL

Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua may have to wait to get back on the field, but he'll be supporting his brother, Kai, in his UFL debut.

Jul 28, 2021; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive back Kai Nacua (43) catches the / Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Rams’ front office is hard at work ensuring the 2024 campaign lasts longer than this past season. Replacing defensive tackle Aaron Donald is no small task, but additions to the offensive line and secondary have helped fortify a fairly top-heavy roster.

While the offseason continues, the Rams players will naturally take well-deserved time off to recover, relax, and prepare for next season. 

Elsewhere, athletes on the fringe are fighting for their football lives. Spring football is back with the United Football League, an eight-team association made of USFL and XFL teams. The UFL season kicked off on Saturday, allowing players another chance to compete and potentially land on NFL radars.

Dec 21, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17). / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

One such player is the brother of Rams receiver Puka Nacua.

Michigan Panthers defensive back Kai Nacua will debut on Saturday (4 p.m. eastern) against the St. Louis Battlehawks. Nacua, six years Puka’s senior, went undrafted in 2017.

His NFL career is without much substance, but includes stints with the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 40ers, and most recently the New York Jets. Like his brother, he’s a BYU product.

The defensive back will hope to replicate the kind of success his younger brother saw in 2023. Puka Nacua, of course, set the rookie record for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) on his way to a second team All-Pro selection and a runner-up finish for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Had it not been for a similarly historic rookie campaign for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, the award certainly would have been his.

The young receiver burst onto the scene after being a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Perhaps coming out of left field is a trait the Nacua brothers share.