Samson Nacua nearly provided the most exciting touchdown of the NFL preseason on Sunday just before halftime of the New Orleans Saints’ 30–27 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
With four seconds remaining in the second quarter, Titans kicker Brayden Narveson attempted a 58-yard field goal. The kick was well short of the uprights, giving Nacua an opportunity to field the ball in the end zone and return it.
Nacua cut to the left sideline at his own 3-yard line and, thanks to two blocks, he found a lane down the left sideline to get to midfield. From there, he cut back to the right sideline and found free space across the field to run another 40 yards. With two blockers accompanying him and only Titans lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere in pursuit, Nacua was on his way to scoring a spectacular touchdown.
However, Tennessee tight end Thomas Odukoya came in hot pursuit to push Nacua toward the sideline. Odukoya took the blocker into Nacua and forced him to step out at the 3-yard line before he could hurdle into the end zone. After running 106 yards, Nacua almost had a kick-six score but came up just short. And with the halftime clock expiring, it was all for naught.
Nacua, 26, is the older brother of Los Angeles Rams star receiver Puka Nacua and originally signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent out of BYU. (He also played four seasons at Utah.) For the past two years, he’s played in professional spring leagues, first with the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers in 2023. This year with the UFL’s Michigan Panthers, he caught 11 passes for 125 yards.
The Saints signed Nacua in August and if his play on Sunday is any indication, he has a strong chance of making the roster as a return specialist, though New Orleans is already well stocked at receiver.
Spencer Rattler looks sharp in preseason action
Derek Carr is under contract with the Saints through 2026. But if he doesn’t play well or if New Orleans wants to avoid paying the $30-80 million he would be owed in the final two years of his deal, rookie Spencer Rattler is presenting himself as a possible option to take over as the Saints’ starting quarterback.
Rattler impressed Saints fans with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Equanimeous St. Brown in the second quarter for New Orleans’ first score of the game. It was Rattler’s first TD pass of the preseason.
The fifth-round pick (No. 150 overall) also threw a 43-yard pass to A.T. Perry in the fourth quarter, making a deep throw look almost effortless while setting up another New Orleans score.
Rattler took over for Jake Haener in the second quarter, completing 7-of-13 passes for 105 yards. Haener threw for 87 yards on 8-for-17 passing.
The rookie is clearly more intriguing to fans and media following the team, with many predicting that he’ll be the Saints’ starter by next year, if not at some point during this season. In three preseason games, he’s thrown for 202 yards, completing 20-of-38 passes (53%).
That completion percentage will have to improve (he was a 69% passer in college) – and drops from receivers have not helped – but Rattler’s big-play ability and youth is enticing.
