Puka Nacua, the Los Angeles Rams wide receiver, has checked into a Malibu rehab facility, according to his attorney, Levi McCathern.
Recently, the NFL star made headlines when a woman accused him of making antisemitic remarks on New Year’s Eve, then biting her on the shoulder. She stated the incident left a physical mark and caused her severe physical pain. However, McCathern claimed that the bite was “horseplay” — done without ill-intent.
According to ESPN, McCathern stated that neither of these allegations are the reason why Nacua decided to check into rehab. "He was in [rehab] a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke,” he said. “And he's scheduled to be there for a while longer."
Allegedly, the trip is meant to “improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life.”
McCathern also stated, “They continue to make up stories trying to turn this minor episode into big dollars. In the end, they are going to be paying Puka and not the other way around.”
For anyone wondering what this means for the team, McCathern said that Nacua is expected to be out of rehab before the Rams organized team activities in May. He also said that Nacua is “deeply grateful for the support he has received from his family, friends, Coach McVay and his teammates.”
When discussing Nacua at the NFL's annual league meeting earlier this week, Coach McVay said, "I trust this kid's heart. Love him, put your arm around him, want to continue to help him grow and really get all the appropriate facts before I kind of rush to judgment on that particular situation."
Nacua was a fifth-round pick in 2023 and is now eligible to sign a contract extension. “We are hopeful that he's a Ram for a really long time,” McVay said. “But he understands what the responsibility is, not exclusive to just the production on the field."
