{"id":337250,"date":"2026-05-29T08:52:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T08:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/337250\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T08:52:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T08:52:14","slug":"rams-puka-nacua-talks-about-rehab-lawsuit-stalled-mega-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/337250\/","title":{"rendered":"Rams’ Puka Nacua talks about rehab, lawsuit, stalled mega deal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On the eve of his 25th birthday, Rams<\/a> star receiver Puka Nacua<\/a> said he was working on becoming a better person \u2014 and that if he continued on that journey the potential massive contract extension that appears to have stalled will take care of itself.<\/p>\n

Nacua on Thursday addressed reporters for the first time since checking into a Malibu rehab facility in March. Nacua sought help after a string of incidents, which included a December incident that led to a civil lawsuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething that I feel like I\u2019ve learned is, it\u2019s OK to ask for support,\u201d Nacua said after participating in an organized-team activity workout in Woodland Hills. \u201cAnd then to recognize the platform that I have in being a professional football player, and trying to use that for the betterment of myself and for those around me.\u201d<\/p>\n

With an offense that features Nacua, quarterback Matthew Stafford<\/a> \u2014 the reigning NFL most valuable player \u2014 and receiver Davante Adams,<\/a> and a defense that includes edge rusher Jared Verse and All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie<\/a>, the Rams are regarded as a favorite to play in Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium.<\/a><\/p>\n

Last season, Nacua led the NFL with 129 receptions and was voted All-Pro. The 2023 fifth-round draft pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and he is eligible for an extension that could surpass the $120-million deal the Seattle Seahawks gave receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.<\/a><\/p>\n

But incidents last season and this offseason caused the Rams to put off talks about awarding Nacua an extension.<\/p>\n

During a livestream last December, Nacua criticized NFL officials and made a gesture regarded as antisemitic. Nacua apologized, but after the Rams\u2019 loss to the Seahawks<\/a> a few days later, Nacua criticized officials in a social media post from the locker room. The NFL fined him $25,000.<\/p>\n

In the lawsuit, a woman alleged that Nacua made an antisemitic remark during a group dinner and then bit her while riding in a vehicle.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Rams <\/p>\n

Puka Nacua smiles after speaking to reporters during organized team activities at the Rams\u2019 training facility in Woodland Hills on Thursday.<\/p>\n

(Gary Klein \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

His attorney has denied that Nacua made an antisemitic remark and said the bite resulted from \u201chorseplay.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Thursday, when asked about the allegations, Nacua declined to comment specifically.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith it being an ongoing legal battle, out of respect for the other party involved, don\u2019t really have much to speak on,\u201d he said, adding: \u201cA moment for me to learn from, kind of some of the situations I was putting myself in, and then also having just an awareness of how I\u2019m conducting myself in and out of this football field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nacua said he made the decision to seek help with the support from those in his \u201cinner circle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI like to think of myself as a pretty happy outgoing guy that enjoyed life,\u201d he said. \u201cBut there also were some difficulties of just being in this professional sport and just throughout my entire life.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rehab program was a \u201cshort stint,\u201d but Nacua said he continues to meet with a team therapist and has adopted tools such as journaling.<\/p>\n

Nacua, who became a father in October, said he was also motivated to continue self-improvement work as a way of sharing with and teaching his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe great things I\u2019ve been able to accomplish and to enjoy those moments, but then also to teach him in some of the mistakes that I\u2019ve made,\u201d he said. \u201cSo there\u2019s an opportunity for him to learn before some of those wrong decisions can be made.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nacua\u2019s \u201csecurity in being able to be authentically honest about\u201d seeking help was admirable, coach Sean McVay said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s real strength in some of the vulnerabilities,\u201d McVay said, \u201cand I\u2019m really proud of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stafford, 38, said he talks with Nacua \u201cnonstop\u201d and that Nacua has looked \u201cfantastic\u201d during workouts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a great person, a great kid, and just doing everything I can to try and give advice when it\u2019s needed, or also just be his buddy too,\u201d Stafford said. \u201cI\u2019m doing everything I can \u2014 I think everyone is, to just support him. … We\u2019re happy he\u2019s back doing his thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stafford spoke for the first time since signing a one-year, $55-million extension that keeps him under contract with the Rams through the 2027 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cHappy to have \u2026 next year taken care of if I decide to play \u2014 and they still want me back,\u201d Stafford quipped. \u201cJust excited to get that behind me, cause I just want to come out here and play and not think about that kind of stuff.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo great to get that done sooner rather than later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Nacua\u2019s string of incidents, the receiver also appeared on track to receive a possible extension before the 2026 season began.<\/p>\n

Now, the Rams are expected to let him play out the season, and then possibly use the franchise tag for 2027 before making a long-term commitment.<\/p>\n

Nacua said he could not imagine playing for another team.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I can continue to improve as a person, I know the coaches and the people around me are helping me improve as a football player,\u201d he said. \u201cSo those are the things I can control, and hopefully allow those other things to handle themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On the eve of his 25th birthday, Rams star receiver Puka Nacua said he was working on becoming…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":337251,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[129494,139171,7501,2631,4456,48,52,51,3376,1846,47,50,49,139170,752,10948,11706,139172,6427,29443,2429],"class_list":["post-337250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-all-pro","tag-antisemitic-remark","tag-extension","tag-help","tag-incident","tag-la","tag-la-headlines","tag-la-news","tag-last-season","tag-lawsuit","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-headlines","tag-los-angeles-news","tag-mega-deal","tag-nfl","tag-puka-nacua","tag-ram","tag-rookie-contract","tag-seattle-seahawks","tag-stafford","tag-thursday"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=337250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/337251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=337250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=337250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=337250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}