Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has entered rehab, his attorney Levi McCathern said Wednesday.
Last month, a woman filed a lawsuit against Nacua, accusing him of making “gratuitous anti-Semitic remarks” on New Year’s Eve and then biting her shoulder.
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Learn more | Pukakanakua indicted for allegedly making anti-Semitic remarks, biting woman
“Puka is taking responsibility for his health and is focused on improving his performance this offseason,” McCarson’s statement read.
The lawsuit filed against Nacua cited gender-based violence, assault and battery, and neglect. Last month, McCarson said in a statement obtained by ABC News that Nakua denied the allegations in the lawsuit “in the strongest possible terms” and that he had video evidence that “highlights” the plaintiff’s “conduct and actions inconsistent with the allegations made.”
McCarson said Nacua will undergo rehabilitation to “improve his overall behavior in all aspects of his life.”
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“He is committed to using this time constructively so that he can return at his best, both personally and professionally, and continue to contribute to his team and the game he loves. He will complete the program in a timely manner and fully participate in all OTAs with the Rams. Puka is also deeply grateful to his family, friends, coach McVay and teammates for their support.
I spoke with Puka and he was in high spirits and focused on the work ahead. I believe he will come back stronger than ever and continue to improve his performance next season.
Unfortunately, while he was working on becoming a better person, a trivial lawsuit caught his attention. I’m excited to see what the future holds for this talented young man. “
At the NFL’s annual league meeting earlier this week, coach Sean McVay said the Rams have been aware of the incident since it occurred on New Year’s Eve and are “continuing to gather all information.”
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“But man, you know, I believe in this kid’s heart,” McVay said. “Love him, put my arms around him, want to continue to help him grow and really get all the appropriate facts before I rush to judgment on a particular situation.”
In December, Nacua issued a statement apologizing for “anti-Semitic behavior and perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Jews” during an Internet live broadcast. Nacua said “at the time he was unaware” of the nature of the gesture, which was associated with anti-Semitic themes.
Nakua is a 2023 fifth-round draft pick and is now eligible to sign a contract extension. When the Rams have those discussions, McVay said Nakua understands the responsibility of representing the organization.
“The play on the court is amazing, and then with the rules and decisions of the game, we have a responsibility to represent everything, not just that,” McVay said. “He knows that. Those are our expectations and we hope this will be an opportunity for him to learn and grow.”
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“We expect him to be a member of the Rams organization for a long time, but he understands what the responsibility is and it’s not just about performance on the field.”
After the Seattle Seahawks made Jaxson Smith-Ngiba the highest-paid receiver in NFL history, Rams general manager Les Snead was asked if he was hesitant to extend Nakua’s contract.
“Right now, we’re just focusing on humans, and then we’ll take that step,” Snead said. “We’ll let him continue to be.”
ESPN contributed to this report.