Los Angeles – When Los Angeles Ram wide receiver Davantte adams Saw a collision in the middle of the ground Puka Naikua He was bleeding over his eye, he was worried.
Ram’s first quarter 14-9 Season-opening win Above Houston TexasNaikua was taken to the locker room after a collision while holding the 9-yard pass. Texus lineback Henry to’toThose who made a hit were flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play.
However, it was not surprising for many people in the locker room who saw Naikua playing in the last two sessions, he returned to the game after being evaluated for a consent and getting stitches. On his first drive, Naikua caught 19 and 24 yards away.
“It’s a powerful puk,” Adams said. “He is a strict son of a gun, it is sure.”
The third year receiver ended with 10 catches for 130 yards, so far the leading receiver despite the missing time while stitches. Rams receiver room passed through a major change, this offsen released the receiver for a long time Cooper Kupp And Signing adamsAnd while there is no doubt that Adams will be a large part of this Ram crime in 2025, it was also shown on Sunday how important Naikua has become for this team.
“He is a special player,” Quarterback Matthew Stafford Said. “He is a special person in our team. His game comes to life on Sunday. He goes there in behavior and he is working. He is doing all this stuff. He is doing drama and all that, but when it deal with football, when Puka Naikua play comes to life.”
On Sunday, it looked like a spark for a Ram crime, who did not score late in another quarter and struggled to take the ball down from the field. Ram missed Naikua especially because Adams was being shared by Texas All-Prophar Cornerback Derek Stingley JRFor most of the game. Adams and Naikua combined for 19 of 28 goals against Texas.
Naikua said in-game stitches were earlier for him, and when he returned, there was some throne to cover his eye, it did not take long for him to move his attention to the field.
“Hope these stitches are doing their work because I am not hesitant to kill anyone else,” Naikua said.
Coach Sean McWaway said, “Especially his materiality on the field -” checks every box, “Ram also knows that this crime is needed on the ground for this offense for this crime this season. In 2024, both Kupp and Naikua missed both significant times due to injury.
McWaway said, “He is as difficult as it becomes.” “I had a friend of mine who used to read me that ‘Naikua should mix her porridge with cement because she is very difficult.” He is a stud, an incredible work was able to come back there.
“We always try to keep our people in the spot to keep our people safe in a physical game. One of the deals he had done very well and he had some traffic catches in the middle where he does not flutter and that is why many of them were flagged.”
And while Rama would not doubt to avoid any unnecessary hard hit, who takes Naikua, it is clear that the ability to play such a physical game is something in which the young receiver is proud.
“I like to play this game of football,” Naikua said. “I think more as enthusiasm and ‘want to hit someone’, yes, you take a couple here and there, [but] My excitement to go there and be able to hit someone and play with materiality that I enjoy playing with football game is something that inspires me to get out.
“And especially in the game quickly and knowing that it was something early and I was able to go back there. I wanted to stay out from there as soon as possible for people.”
That mentality and that physical game has been his calling card since his crook season, but now without Kupp, Naikua will have a chance to show the world even more.
