Rams WR Puka Nacua ejected for punching Tyrel Dodson vs. Seahawks

There’s been a number of players ejected on Sunday’s slate of NFL games. Rams wideout Puka Nacua was ejected for punching Tyrel Dodson, after he was caught retaliating in a scuffle. Here’s the play as Nacua clearly throws a punch at Dodson with his helmet on in the Rams-Seahawks game.

The punch that got Puka Nacua ejected. pic.twitter.com/zJMHIW5Fw7

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 3, 2024

It was obviously a massive loss for the Rams and a very unwise decision by Nacua. He’s got to be smarter than that, considering how he’s one of the top receivers in the league when available. On the bright side of things, since he was ejected, Nacua couldn’t further injure his knee, which has given him problems for much of the year.

Before getting ejected, Nacua had one catch for 11 yards.

The Rams defeated the Seahawks 26-20, thanks to Matthew Stafford connecting with DeMarcus Robinson for a 39-yard touchdown pass in overtime.

More on Puka Nacua and his injury woes this year

Nacua’s injury was to his posterior cruciate ligament, which he initially injured in training camp but reaggravated against the Lions in the season opener.

He was initially diagnosed with a grade 2 PCL sprain, which often takes 6-8 weeks to return. He returned last week, but only after two limited practices. Against the Vikings, Nacua hauled in seven catches for 106 yards in the Rams’ 30-20 win. He’s only played in three games so far this season, Detroit, Seattle, and Minnesota.

Puka Nacua had a record-setting rookie campaign

Rams rookie receiver Puka Nacua etched his name in the NFL history books his rookie season. With his performance against the San Francisco 49ers, Nacua broke the single-season rookie record for both yards and receptions.

The previous receiving yards record, set by Houston Oilers receiver Bill Groman in 1960, had stood for more than six decades. Nacua surpassed Groman’s 1,473 yards with a six-yard catch in the third quarter. He entered the game just 29 yards shy of breaking the record and finished with four catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.

On the very next play, Nacua hauled in his 105th catch of the year to break that rookie record. He surpasses Miami receiver Jaylen Waddle, who had 104 catches in his first NFL season in 2021. He joins Waddle and Anquan Boldin as one of just three rookie receivers to catch 100 or more passes.

Puka Nacua began the year filling in for Cooper Kupp as the Rams’ top receiver and continued to work in tandem with Kupp following his return. The fifth-round pick wasted no time making an impact as he recorded back-to-back 100-yard performances in his first two NFL games. It would be a sign of what was to come for his special career.

On3’s Chandler Vessels and Grant Grubbs also contributed to this article.