The Rams were among the teams whose OTAs began this week. Puka Nacua has been present for offseason work since April, so to no surprise he has also been a participant in early on-field practices.
Nacua spoke to reporters on Thursday, marking his first public comments since being sued by a woman over allegations of making an “unprovoked antisemitic statement” and later biting her on the shoulder during a Dec. 31, 2025 incident. Nacua checked himself into a rehab center in March. He addressed the lawsuit simply by referring to it as an “ongoing legal battle” but also spoke about his recent time away from the team.
“I’ve been really grateful for the support from the organization, especially my teammates,” the 25-year-old said (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop). “Some of the things I feel like I’ve learned is it’s OK to ask for support and then to recognize the platform that I have and being a professional football player and trying to use that for the betterment of myself and for those around me. There’s been a lot of good things in the midst of some of these things that have been challenging for me, but it’s been a great improvement in my life.”
Nacua is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract. The former fifth-round pick has emerged as one of the game’s top receivers during his time with the Rams, racking up nearly 4,200 yards and 19 touchdowns to date. Nacua’s 129 receptions and 107.2 yards per game from 2025 led the NFL, and he will be expected to remain a focal point on offense for Los Angeles during the coming campaign. Off-field concerns have played a role in preventing a big-ticket extension from being agreed to so far, however.
On that note, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirms (video link) this situation is being viewed as a reset of sorts for Nacua. A strong showing on the field, along with the absence of any further legal matters or other off-field issues, would create the circumstances for a blockbuster second contract. Davante Adams is a pending 2027 free agent, and electing not to retain him – or trade for another veteran wideout – would point further to a lucrative commitment in Nacua’s case. The top of the receiver market now stands at $42.15MM per year thanks to Jaxon Smith-Njigba‘s extension.
A deal carrying a similar value is not forthcoming for Nacua as things stand. He said an extension is not a concern at this time, but it will be interesting to see if talks on a new deal pick up at some point in the future.