Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua departed practice early on Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by trainer Reggie Scott, leaving the team uncertain about the nature of his injury. The incident occurred just days before the Rams' preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Head coach Sean McVay stated he had no immediate update on the situation. Nacua, 25, is considered the Rams' number one receiver and a key player for a team heavily favored to compete for the Super Bowl.
This development follows a series of offseason challenges for Nacua. Earlier on Tuesday, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported that Nacua could face a potential league suspension stemming from an incident on New Year's Eve. Schefter indicated that disciplinary actions for several players, including Nacua, were being reviewed and might be announced before the regular season begins.
"Right now, there are some things going on behind closed doors that we don't have full access to, that are going to have a significant impact on the season, depending on how these conversations go," Schefter said regarding potential league discipline. "And what I'm talking about is the potential discipline of a handful of players that we believe will be handed down - whatever it is - by the start of the regular season."
Schefter added, "Cases that I believe are now being reviewed include that of Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who could face discipline for some of the offseason headlined that accompanied him." He suggested that Nacua might not play in the Rams' game against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia if discipline is imposed.
In May, Nacua acknowledged undergoing a period of self-reflection after being accused of biting a woman and subsequently entering a rehabilitation facility. He stated that his time in rehab provided "a moment for me to learn from some of the situations I was putting myself in and then also having just an awareness of how I'm conducting myself in and out of this football field."
Nacua also revealed he had worked with a Rams therapist and attended weekly meetings to improve his daily structure. "Little did I know that even just writing in a journal, as simple as that, and finding ways to express some of the things I have near and dear to my heart... it's been a great improvement in my life," he said. He expressed gratitude for the support from the organization and his teammates, recognizing the importance of asking for help and using his platform responsibly.
Reports indicate Nacua entered the rehab facility early in the offseason, prior to a lawsuit filed in March. The lawsuit alleges he bit a friend of the plaintiff during the same New Year's Eve encounter. Nacua had previously issued a public apology in December for performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes during an internet livestream and for critical comments made against NFL officials on social media.
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