Why did Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua went to rehab before being sued for assault and battery? Attorney reveals reason amid legal trouble

Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua is in rehab and was there before he was sued for assault and battery by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder on New Year's Eve, news agency AP reported, citing his attorney.

“He was in (rehab) a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke ... and he’s scheduled to be there for a while longer,” Levi McCathern told The California Post, according to AP.

Nacua landed in trouble after a woman in Los Angeles claimed that he made an antisemitic comment and later bit her so hard he broke her skin, according to TMZ. The Los Angeles Rams' star has described the allegations as baseless and unfounded.


The incident allegedly took place on December 31, 2026, after a group outing in Century City. The alleged victim, in her application for a temporary restraining order, outlined the incident that occurred following a group outing in Century City.

What was the purpose of rehab?

McCathern told the newspaper Nacua's decision to enter rehab was not a direct response to the lawsuit his accuser filed against him late last month, but an attempt “to improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life,” according to AP.

Nacua issued an apology December 2025 after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet livestream.

As a receiver in NFL history over his first three seasons with the Rams, Nacua was drafted in the fifth round out of BYU in 2023. He led the league with 129 catches last season and had 1,715 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. Nacua is eligible to sign a contract extension with the Rams this offseason.