PHILADELPHIA -- In Puka Nacua's first game back from a hip injury, Matthew Stafford said he thought the Los Angeles Rams' wide receiver looked like himself on the field.
Nacua, who missed the Rams' previous two games because of an injury that was affecting his ability to change direction on the field, had nine catches for 125 yards in the Rams' 24-20 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He also scored Los Angeles' first touchdown of the game on a 2-yard rush in the second quarter.
"He's such an energy spark for us," Stafford said. "Obviously, made some tough catches late in the game for us over the middle. Guys draped all over him. So he played like Puka to me."
Nacua played 70 offensive snaps (90.9%) for the Rams and said he didn't feel pain in his hip or groin during the game. Nacua said Los Angeles' medical staff did a good job making sure he could stay warm on the sideline.
"I'm sure on the plane ride or tomorrow, I'm sure I'll feel some soreness and stuff like that, but I felt good throughout all four quarters," Nacua said.
According to NFL NextGen Stats, Nacua recorded 42 of his 125 yards after the catch, generating plus-18 yards after the catch over expected. Despite missing the previous two weeks, Nacua has the eighth-most YACOE this season.
"I thought he was really key and critical in those crunch time moments," coach Sean McVay said. "... They were doing some different coverages where [Eagles defensive coordinator] Vic [Fangio] does such a good job of mixing it up, but there was some different things that we felt like we could take advantage of being able to get him the ball.
"And I thought Matthew did that, and in a lot of instances, [Nacua's] going against a damn good corner that I have a ton of respect for."
In two games this season, Nacua has 14 catches for 199 yards.
