During Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua set the league’s record for rookie receptions and rookie receiving yards in a win over the San Francisco 49ers.
He finished his first pro season with 105 receptions for 1,486 receiving yards.
Less than a full calendar year later, Nacua is likely to lose his grip on one of those records.
With two weeks left in the regular season, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers are on pace to pass Nacua’s record of 105 receptions in his first NFL season.
How close is Brock Bowers to breaking Puka Nacua’s NFL rookie receptions record?
Bowers, the former Georgia star, has 101 receptions for 1,067 yards on the year and is four catches behind Nacua for the rookie receptions record.
He’s averaging 6.7 catches per game and has had four games with 10 or more catches.
At this point, barring a surprise, Bowers will break Nacua’s record. In his worst game this season, Bowers still had two catches, and he’s had 11 games with four or more receptions.
How close is Malik Nabers to breaking Puka Nacua’s NFL rookie receptions record?
Nabers, the former LSU standout, has 97 receptions for 969 yards on the year and thus needs eight more catches to tie Nacua.
He has six games this season with eight or more receptions, with a high of 12 back in Week 4.
Nabers is dealing with a toe injury and practiced for the only time this week on Friday, though he is “trending towards playing,” according to the New York Post.