BYU great Puka Nacua returns to game after gruesome injury

Jeff Hauser

BYU great Puka Nacua returns to game after gruesome injury image

Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua was forced to exit Sunday’s season opener with the Houston Texans. The BYU great took a jarring hit near the end of the first quarter and appeared to be bleeding from his eye on the CBS broadcast. 

The Rams later announced he was being evaluated for a concussion.

Nacua caught a pass in the middle of the field for a 9-yard gain when Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o initiated helmet-to-helmet contact. He was escorted off the field for further evaluation. To’oTo’o was penalized for the hit. 

Nacua was cleared after a concussion check and returned to the game. He had six receptions for 63 yards with six minutes left in the third quarter. 

The former Cougars standout was named one of the NFL's Top 100 Players before the start of the season. He earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl as a rookie two years ago. Nacua set the NFL record for receptions in a rookie season (105), receiving yards in a rookie season (1,486), receptions by a rookie in a game (15) and receiving yards by a rookie in a playoff game (181).

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Jeff Hauser

Jeff Hauser is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has over twenty years of experience and is a two-time Emmy Award winner, Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award voter. Among the events he has covered are the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff, World Series, World Cup, and WBC Boxing. Hauser is a regular guest on FOX Sports and ESPN Radio. He previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, SB Nation and Athlon Sports.