Samson Nacua nearly delivered one of the most thrilling moments of the NFL preseason during the New Orleans Saints’ 30–27 defeat against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, just before halftime.
With only four seconds left in the second quarter, Titans kicker Brayden Narveson attempted a 58-yard field goal that fell short, allowing Nacua to catch the ball in the end zone and initiate a return.
Starting from his own 3-yard line, Nacua made a sharp cut to the left sideline. With the help of two blocks, he maneuvered his way to midfield. He then switched directions, sprinting 40 yards across the field. Despite having two blockers in front of him and only Titans lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere chasing him down, Nacua appeared to be on the verge of scoring a spectacular touchdown.
However, Tennessee tight end Thomas Odukoya’s pursuit forced Nacua toward the sideline. Odukoya collided with one of Nacua’s blockers, pushing him out of bounds at the 3-yard line just before he could leap into the end zone. After covering 106 yards, Nacua nearly achieved a dramatic kick-six touchdown, but it was ultimately in vain as the halftime clock expired.
At 26 years old, Nacua is the older brother of Los Angeles Rams standout receiver Puka Nacua and initially signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent after playing at BYU and spending four years at Utah. In the past two years, he participated in professional spring leagues, first with the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers in 2023 and then with the UFL’s Michigan Panthers, where he recorded 11 receptions for 125 yards.
The Saints brought Nacua on board in August, and based on his performance on Sunday, he may have a solid chance of securing a spot on the roster as a return specialist, although New Orleans is already deep in receiving talent.
In other preseason news, rookie Spencer Rattler demonstrated his skills in the game. While Derek Carr is contracted with the Saints until 2026, there are speculations that Rattler could emerge as a potential replacement if Carr’s performance falters or the team wants to sidestep the hefty $30-80 million owed in the final two years of his contract.
Rattler caught the attention of Saints fans by throwing a 21-yard touchdown pass to Equanimeous St. Brown in the second quarter, marking his first touchdown pass of the preseason. He followed up with a 43-yard completion to A.T. Perry in the fourth quarter, showcasing his ability to deliver deep throws with apparent ease and setting up another score for New Orleans.
Taking the reins from Jake Haener in the second quarter, Rattler completed 7 of 13 passes for 105 yards, while Haener went 8 for 17 for 87 yards. Rattler’s performance has generated significant buzz among fans and analysts, leading many to speculate that he could become the Saints’ starter by next year or potentially even this season. Across three preseason games, Rattler has thrown for 202 yards, completing 20 of 38 passes (53%). He will need to enhance his completion rate, which was 69% during his college career, particularly since drops from receivers have compounded the challenge. Nonetheless, Rattler’s potential for big plays and his youth make him an exciting prospect.