Instant Replay: Former Cougar Safety With Huge Hit In Practice
Aug 3, 2022, 7:16 PM | Updated: 7:49 pm
Inglewood, CA - August 22: Defensive back Kai Nacua #43 of the San Francisco 49ers sacks quarterback Chase Daniel #7 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the second half of a NFL football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood in Inglewood on Sunday, August 22, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
(Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Former Brigham Young Cougar Kai Nacua appears to be making quite the impression in training camp with the New York Jets.
Nacua signed a contract with the Jets on December 23, 2021. At the time, he hadn’t spent time with an NFL team since being released by the San Francisco 49ers a couple of weeks before the 2021 season began.
.@KaiNacua looks like an LB to us 😳 pic.twitter.com/5gqse2DRuE
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 3, 2022
During team drills, Jets quarterback Mike White dropped back and dumped a screen pass off to rookie running back Zonovan White. What caught the pass and was almost immediately dropped by Nacua with a textbook tackle.
Jets teammates then swarmed Nacua in celebration of the big hit.
About Kai Nacua
Prior to his time in the NFL, Nacua played defensive back at BYU from 2013-16.
During his time in Provo, Nacua had 158 total tackles, 111 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and 14 interceptions.
The safety joined the Cleveland Browns shortly after going undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft.
During his rookie campaign, Nacua played in 16 games, including three starts. He finished the 2017 season with 14 total tackles and 12 solo tackles.
The Browns waived Nacua in April 2018.
Kai Nacua just obliterated Zonovan Knight on final play of goal line drill.
Very upsetting.
All-name team on All-name team crime. #Jets
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 3, 2022
Since then, the defensive back has spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets.
Nacua played four games in 2021, three with the Jets and one with San Francisco. Primarily a special teams player, Nacua participated in 10 defensive snaps with the Jets in 2021 and combined for 70 special teams snaps between the two franchises.
