Saints sign brother of Rams record-setting Pro Bowl WR

The Los Angeles Rams appear to have gotten the steal of the 2023 NFL Draft in fifth-round wideout Puka Nacua, who set the new rookie single-season record for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) last season.

Nacua was a Pro Bowler, earned second team All-Pro honors and was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up as well.

Now, as they deal with injuries in their wide receiver room, the New Orleans Saints are turning to Puka's older brother, Samson Nacua, to try and help provide some depth.

Samson played four seasons at the University of Utah from 2017-2020, posting 82 receptions for 1,015 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns across 45 games. Samson then transferred to Brigham Young University at the same time that Puka moved from the University of Washington to BYU for the 2021 campaign.

Samson, who is 26-years-old and has never played in an NFL game, was fifth on the Cougars that season in receptions (21) and receiving yards (329) and tied for second in touchdown catches (three). Puka led the squad in receiving yards (805) and was tied for the top spot in touchdown receptions (six), while adding 43 catches, which were second-most on the team.

The elder Nacua most recently suited up for the Michigan Panthers in the United Football League, while another older brother of Puka's, Kai, currently plays safety for the team. Kai played at BYU from 2013-16, went undrafted and played 25 NFL games across three separate seasons (2017, 2020, 2021) with the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets.

Three New Orleans wide receivers — Bub Means, Cedrick Wilson and Equanimeous St. Brown — have all recently missed practices with injuries, and star wideout Chris Olave also exited a session early on Tuesday due to a hip issue.