Why Rams Wide Receiver Puka Nacua Entered Rehab During a Messy Legal Dispute

Life off the field has gotten messy for Puka Nacua. However, Puka is not some random bench guy suddenly making waves.

The 24-year-old receiver started at the University of Washington before transferring to Brigham Young University. At BYU, he had 91 catches for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns across two seasons.

Before that, he dominated at Orem High School in Utah, where he set state career records in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. BYU’s bio lists him as a Provo native and identifies him as the son of Penina and the late Lionel Nacua.

Now, he’s taking a slight step back from football.

Puka entered rehab voluntarily, according to his attorney. He checked into a holistic care facility in early March to focus on his well-being, offseason performance, and “personal growth.” His attorney, Levi McCathern, said Puka made the decision before a woman filed for a temporary restraining order and a civil lawsuit.

"He is committed to using this time constructively so that he can return in the best possible position — both personally and professionally — to continue contributing to his team and the game he loves,” Levi said in a statement to the NFL. Adding, "It is unfortunate that a trivial lawsuit has drawn attention to Puka during a time when he is focused on becoming a better overall person. I am really excited to see what the future holds for this gifted young man."

Puka’s NFL climb happened fast. The Los Angeles Rams selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. He quickly turned into one of the biggest steals in the league, with the stats to back it up. As a rookie, he set NFL records for receptions and receiving yards by a rookie with 105 catches and 1,486 yards.

Through 44 regular-season games, he has piled up 313 catches for 4,191 yards and 19 receiving touchdowns. In 2025 alone, he led the league with 129 receptions and added 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has already earned two Pro Bowl selections and multiple All-Pro honors.

According to Reuters, Puka faces a civil lawsuit tied to allegations from a New Year’s Eve gathering in Los Angeles. Madison Atiabi claims he made an antisemitic remark and later bit two women. Puka’s attorney denied the claims. He described the alleged biting as “horseplay” and said the athlete plans to pursue legal action in response.

Puka now qualifies for a contract extension, but head coach Sean McVay made it clear that the conversation goes beyond stats.

"The play on the field is amazing, and then with what the play has dictated and determined, there's a responsibility in terms of representing all things, not exclusive to just that," McVay told ESPN. "He knows that. Those are the expectations, and we're hopeful that that'll be something that this will be an opportunity for him to learn and grow. And we are hopeful that he's a Ram for a really long time, but he understands what the responsibility is, not exclusive to just the production on the field."