Is Puka Nacua playing tonight? Why Rams wide receiver is off to slow start vs. 49ers

Mike Moraitis

Is Puka Nacua playing tonight? Why Rams wide receiver is off to slow start vs. 49ers image

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is on the cusp of making NFL history in the Week 5 game against the San Francisco 49ers, but his chances of doing so are in trouble early on thanks to a slow start.

Nacua entered Thursday night needing eight catches to become the first player in league history to record 50 or more catches over the first five games of a season.

Unfortunately, Nacua has yet to get going against the Rams in Week 5, which is rare for the uber-talented wide receiver.

Here's a closer look at what's going on.

Is Puka Nacua playing tonight?

UPDATE: It has been an uncharacteristically quiet night for Nacua, who has just three catches for 24 yards in the first half.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has been distributing the ball around and has connected with five different pass-catchers.

END OF UPDATE

Nacua is active, healthy and in the lineup, but he had just one catch on one target for five yards in the first quarter. That said, the Rams only had one drive in the first quarter, as the Niners dominated time of possession.

Nacua is too good to stay down like this for long. It's just a matter of time before he gets going.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.