Puka Nacua's Brother Breaks Silence on Failed 106-Yard Touchdown Against Titans

In a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints receiver Samson Nacua made a memorable special teams play with a 106-yard kick return that ended just shy of the end zone.

Nacua, who wasn't expecting to be on the field, was sent out to return a 58-yard field goal attempt by Tennessee's second-string kicker, Brayden Narveson. He fielded the ball deep in the end zone and made an electrifying sideline-to-sideline run before being forced out of bounds at the Titans' 3-yard line by tight end Thomas Odukoya.

The play, which took nearly 0 seconds, did not result in a score as time had expired, and the Saints eventually lost 30-27.

Reflecting on the play, Nacua expressed regret.

"I let the guys down. I should have pitched it to the homeboy that was right there and let him walk it in.," he said.

Despite his disappointment, Nacua found humor in the situation, joking about the messages he expected from his family, including his brother and Los Angeles Rams star receiver Puka Nacua.

“They’re probably going to tell me I am the slower brother — and I’m going to be sick because I know I’m faster than Puka,” he said with a grin. He also admitted the return took a toll on him physically, saying, "Going sideways made it feel like an extra 60 yards... I was so tired."

Whether this play will help Nacua secure a spot on the team remains uncertain as roster cuts loom. Saints coach Dennis Allen acknowledged the excitement of the play, noting the smart football and competitive spirit played.

“That’s just part of the evaluation," Allen said. "The positive thing about that is there was a lot of smart football that took place on that play and there was a competitive nature of the guys that were on that unit in trying to score. It certainly was an exciting play.”

Related: Puka Nacua's Brother Goes Viral For Nearly Scoring 106-Yard Touchdown