Standout wide receiver Puka Nacua remains eligible to be in the Rams’ lineup for their season-opening game Thursday night against the 49ers in Australia even while facing potential discipline by the NFL for his off-field behavior.
Nacua’s case is still under review by the league under its personal conduct policy. But the NFL has taken no action to this point.
The Rams are scheduled to leave Los Angeles late Tuesday to travel to Melbourne. They remained in the L.A. area to practice while the 49ers traveled to Australia last week to acclimate. The game is scheduled to be played at 8:35 p.m. Eastern on Thursday in the U.S., which is 10:35 a.m. Friday in Melbourne.
Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters Sunday that the team expects Nacua and offensive tackle Alaric Jackson to be able to play against the 49ers. Jackson also faces possible discipline by the NFL under the conduct policy.
Late last month, the NFL put Packers running back Josh Jacobs and Seahawks cornerback Terrion Arnold on the commissioner’s exempt list, meaning both players are on paid administrative leave. Both of those players face criminal charges and could remain on paid leave until their legal cases are resolved.
Nacua has not been charged with a crime.
He said at a news conference Monday that he was “definitely” feeling “emotion” about the matter.
“Just trying to handle that in the ways that I can and what’s in my control,” Nacua said. “But also, yeah, having a realistic understanding of the consequences of some of the things that I put myself in this offseason. But I feel like I’ve been able to feel grounded and feel present when I step out there on the football field.”
Nacua also has been plagued recently by an injury to his psoas, a deep core muscle.
“That’s been one of the positive things of every time I step on that football field, never taking that moment for granted and then also feeling really grateful to be out there with the group of guys and to go out and compete,” he said Monday. “It’s been a while, obviously working through injury and not being out there. So when the feet touch the grass, it feels really good.”
A woman in Los Angeles, Madison Atiabi, filed a civil lawsuit against Nacua in March accusing him of biting her on the shoulder and making an antisemitic comment.
The suit cited gender violence, assault and battery, and negligence. It accused Nacua of making an antisemitic remark that made the woman uncomfortable because of her Jewish faith. It alleged that Nacua forcibly bit her on her shoulder, leaving a circular imprint, while the two were in a vehicle together on New Year’s Eve. The lawsuit also accused Nacua of biting the thumb of the woman’s friend.
Nacua denied the allegations through his attorney, who acknowledged the biting incident but called it “horseplay” and said the accusations were financially motivated. (Atiabi’s lawyers have shared photos of the bite marks with the media.)
The woman initially sought a restraining order but later withdrew the request.
In December, Nacua issued a public statement apologizing for performing a gesture during a livestream that he said he’d had no idea at the time was “antisemitic in nature.” Nacua made the gesture when two streamers suggested that he perform it as part of a touchdown celebration.
Nacua, 25, is entering his fourth NFL season and has become one of the league’s top receivers after being selected with the final pick of the fifth round in the 2023 draft out of BYU. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was named first-team All-Pro last season after he led the league with his 129 catches. He had 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
He has totaled 313 catches for 4,191 yards and 19 touchdowns in three seasons with the Rams. Nacua might have already signed a lucrative contract extension with the Rams if not for his off-field issues, some industry analysts have said.
Jackson was arrested on a domestic violence charge in June. His case reportedly was assigned for pre-filing diversion as an alternative to misdemeanor criminal prosecution.
There is no indication that Sue L. Robinson, the former federal judge who is the disciplinary officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association, is involved in any current disciplinary case. Under the personal conduct policy, she would make the initial disciplinary ruling in any case brought before her. An appeal of her ruling by either side would be resolved by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell or a person appointed by him.
The NFL and NFLPA can reach a settlement on a disciplinary measure at any point during the process.
Only one disciplinary case is known to have gone before Robinson under this version of the conduct policy. She issued a six-game suspension of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022 after conducting a hearing. The NFL and NFLPA reached a settlement on an 11-game suspension without pay and a $5 million fine before the NFL’s appeal of Robinson’s ruling was resolved.
Watson was not charged with a crime but faced allegations of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions in more than two dozen civil lawsuits filed by women against him.
The Rams are the overwhelming Super Bowl favorite after trading for pass rusher Myles Garrett and cornerback Trent McDuffie in the offseason to add them to a star-laden roster that also includes quarterback Matthew Stafford, the reigning league MVP.
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald came out of retirement to rejoin the Rams late last month on a one-year contract that will pay him $20 million and contains another $10 million in potential incentives. He and Garrett have won five NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards between them, including three by Donald.
