Rams WR Puka Nacua passed another milestone

Puka Nacua's sensational career continues to set records.

The third-year Los Angeles Rams receiver finished Week 13 with six receptions, which pushed his career total to 270 receptions in just 39 games. That mark passed Odell Beckham Jr. for the most receptions in a player's first 40 games. Nacua only needs five receptions in Week 14 to take the top spot from Michael Thomas, who caught 274 passes in his first 40 games in the NFL.

What Nacua has been able to accomplish in less than three seasons is pretty remarkable. It should be noted, too, that he missed six games in 2024 and missed one game in 2025. Theoretically, Nacua could already have passed Thomas if he continued on his 6.9 receptions per game career average.

That mark is what he'll be targeting Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals, though. He's only finished with fewer than five receptions once this season — in Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens, when he sustained a mid-game ankle injury that forced him to miss Week 7. He's caught fewer than five receptions just nine times in his 39 career games.

Matthew Stafford loves to target Nacua all over the field, and he will always be the focal point of the passing offense when he's healthy. Even with Davante Adams on his team, Nacua is averaging a career-high 7.8 receptions per game this season, a mark tied with Ja'Marr Chase for first in the NFL.

For those curious, here is how the top-5 breaks down for receptions in a player's first 50 games:

1. Michael Thomas: 346

2. Odell Beckham Jr.: 337

3. Justin Jefferson: 324

4. Amon-Ra St. Brown: 318

5. Anquan Boldin: 314

If Nacua's per-game reception average remains consistent, he has a good shot at taking that top spot.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams WR Puka Nacua passed another milestone