NFL Star Checks Himself Into Rehab

A woman in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit against Nacua last month, accusing the NFL star of making an “unprovoked antisemitic statement” on New Year’s Eve and biting her on the shoulder, ESPN reports.

“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,” said Levi McCathern, his attorney, according to the outlet.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has checked into rehab, his attorney, Levi McCathern, told The California Post. pic.twitter.com/10jFfaJ5Rl

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 1, 2026

ESPN shared further:

The lawsuit filed against Nacua cites gender violence, assault and battery, and negligence. Last month, McCathern said in a statement obtained by ABC News that Nacua denies the allegations in the lawsuit “in the strongest possible terms” and that he has video evidence that “underscores” that the plaintiff’s “behavior and actions are inconsistent with the allegations being made.”

McCathern said Nacua is going to rehab in an attempt “to improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life.”

McCathern said in a statement to NFL Network that Nacua “will complete the program in plenty of time to be involved in all of the Rams OTAs.”

At the NFL’s annual league meeting earlier this week, coach Sean McVay said the Rams have been aware of the incident since it happened on New Year’s Eve and are “continuing to gather all the information.”

“But man, you guys know, I trust this kid’s heart,” McVay said. “Love him, put your arm around him, want to continue to help him grow and really get all the appropriate facts before I kind of rush to judgment on that particular situation.”

According to the New York Post, the rehab center helps patients who are battling issues such as “drug and alcohol addition, chronic pain and mental health conditions.”

“He’s in great spirits. I think he’s doing absolutely fabulous. I’m just really excited for how he’s going to look next year. For as great as he was, I think he’s going to be even better going forward,” McCathern said, according to the outlet.

Puka Nacua in rehab after alleged drunken New Year's Eve bite attack https://t.co/zMmnfYR8vJ pic.twitter.com/X0iP9tkqMD

— New York Post (@nypost) April 1, 2026

More from the New York Post:

Nacua has made headlines twice this offseason for incidents where alcohol was allegedly involved.

The first was during Super Bowl week in San Francisco, when cameras captured him stumbling and dancing in a street after he had attended a party.

The next occurred on March 24, when Atiabi alleged in a petition for a restraining order against Nacua that the two-time Pro Bowler had gotten drunk and bit her during a Dec. 31 night out in Los Angeles.

Atiabi, 24, wrote in her filing that Nacua made her uncomfortable all evening after he consumed alcohol at a dinner with her and their friends. She claimed he said “f—k all the Jews” at the meal, before he “attacked” her when they were both in a sprinter van on their way to their group’s next destination.

Atiabi claimed Nacua’s bite “broke skin” and “left visible” marks on her shoulder. She added that it caused her “immediate and severe physical pain.”

On March 25, Atiabi also sued Nacua over the alleged incident. Her attorney, Joseph Kar, told The Post on March 27 that he and his client were pulling their request for their restraining order so they could better “focus our efforts” on that lawsuit.

McCathern has denied that Nacua made any sort of antisemitic remarks, but did acknowledge his client bit Atiabi. McCathern has staunchly claimed Nacua’s actions were merely a result of mutual “horseplay.”