LOS ANGELES — Levi McCathern, the attorney for Los Angeles Rams wideout Puka Nacua, informed The California Post on Wednesday that Nacua has commenced a rehabilitation program.
The previous month, a woman in Los Angeles initiated legal proceedings against Nacua, asserting that he delivered a spontaneous derogatory comment of an antisemitic nature on New Year’s Eve and subsequently bit her shoulder.
“He had been in [the program] for a considerable duration prior to the surfacing of these claims … and his stay is slated to continue for an extended period,” McCathern conveyed to The California Post.
The legal complaint lodged against Nacua enumerates counts of gender-based violence, physical aggression, and carelessness. The previous month, McCathern declared in a communiqué acquired by ABC News that Nacua categorically refutes the accusations within the lawsuit “with utmost conviction” and possesses visual proof that “emphasizes” the complainant’s “conduct and deeds diverge from the claims being put forth.”
Nacua is attending a rehabilitation program with the goal, McCathern stated, “of enhancing his general conduct across all facets of his existence.”
In an official declaration to NFL Network, McCathern affirmed that Nacua “is set to conclude the program well in advance to participate in all of the Rams’ Organized Team Activities.”
During the NFL’s yearly league conference this past week, coach Sean McVay mentioned that the Rams have possessed knowledge of the occurrence from its inception on New Year’s Eve and are “presently accumulating every detail.”
McVay expressed, “However, as you are aware, I have faith in this young man’s character. We cherish him, offer him support, and intend to facilitate his continued development by thoroughly ascertaining all pertinent information prior to making a hasty determination regarding that specific circumstance.”
The previous December, Nacua released a declaration expressing regret for an action displayed during an online broadcast that was “inherently antisemitic and reinforced detrimental preconceptions about the Jewish community.” Nacua asserted that “he was unaware at that moment” about the true character of the gesture, often linked to antisemitic motifs.
Nacua, a 2023 fifth-round selection, can now qualify for a contract renewal. McVay noted that Nacua comprehends the obligation tied to acting as an organizational representative, particularly while the Rams engage in these deliberations.
McVay stated, “His performance on the gridiron is exceptional, and given what his on-field performance has indicated and established, a duty exists regarding the representation of various aspects, not solely limited to his athletic prowess. He is cognizant of this. These are the foreseen standards, and we anticipate this will serve as a chance for him to acquire knowledge and mature.
“Furthermore, we earnestly wish for him to remain a Ram for an extended duration, yet he grasps the extent of the obligation, extending beyond mere on-field output.”
Following the development that the Seattle Seahawks positioned Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the most generously compensated receiver in NFL annals, Rams general manager Les Snead faced inquiries regarding any reluctance to offer Nacua a substantial contract renewal.
Snead declared, “Currently, our sole concentration lies with the individual, and subsequently, we will advance to that stage. Our aim is to allow his ongoing evolution.”