Puka Nacua Entered Rehab Before Lawsuit, Attorney Says

Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua was in a rehabilitation facility before a civil lawsuit alleging assault and battery was filed against him, his attorney Levi McCathern said. McCathern told The California Post that Nacua "was in rehab a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke" and remains scheduled to stay there for a while longer. He said the decision to enter treatment was not a direct reaction to the March lawsuit but part of an effort "to improve his overall behaviour in every aspect of his life."

The lawsuit, filed in March in Los Angeles, names Madison Atiabi as the plaintiff and is brought by attorney Joseph Kar. It accuses Nacua of making an antisemitic exclamation that emotionally distressed Atiabi during an encounter on New Year’s Eve and of biting her later in a van, leaving teeth marks on her shoulder. The complaint also alleges Nacua bit a friend’s thumb and includes claims of gender violence and negligence.

McCathern has denied that Nacua used antisemitic language and described the biting incidents as "horseplay." Nacua previously apologized in December after a livestream gesture drew criticism for invoking antisemitic tropes.

On the field, Nacua has been one of the NFL’s most productive receivers in his first three seasons with the Rams. Drafted in the fifth round out of BYU in 2023, he led the league last season with 129 catches for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns and is eligible for a contract extension this offseason.

McCathern said Nacua "will complete the program in plenty of time to be involved in all of the Rams OTAs." The Rams can begin offseason workouts on April 20, with official training camp opening in July ahead of the September season opener.