Puka Nacua Checks Into Rehab Amid Lawsuit, Rams Expect Him Back for OTAs

The Los Angeles Rams are dealing with some serious offseason noise right now. Wide receiver Puka Nacua has checked into rehab, his attorney Levi McCathern confirmed to The California Post on Wednesday. This comes as a woman in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit against Nacua alleging he made an "unprovoked antisemitic statement" on New Year's Eve and later bit her on the shoulder.

The Timeline and the Legal Situation

Here's the thing: according to McCathern, Nacua was already in rehab before any of these allegations became public. "He was in [rehab] a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke," McCathern told The California Post. The lawsuit filed against Nacua includes charges for gender violence, assault and battery, and negligence.

Nacua's legal team isn't backing down. McCathern said in a statement obtained by ABC News that Nacua denies the allegations "in the strongest possible terms" and that he has video evidence that "underscores" the plaintiff's "behavior and actions are inconsistent with the allegations being made."

Rehab Plans and What's Next

McCathern told NFL Network that Nacua "will complete the program in plenty of time to be involved in all of the Rams OTAs." The attorney also stressed that Nacua is using this time in rehab to work on improving "his overall behavior in every aspect of his life," not just addressing the current situation.

The Rams will be watching this closely as they head into the offseason workout period. McCathern's assurance that Nacua will be available for OTAs suggests the team expects to have him back in the mix sooner rather than later, pending how everything shakes out legally and personally.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.