Puka Nacua biting allegations, explained: What to know about reported incident that landed Rams WR in rehab

Puka Nacua biting allegations, explained: What to know about reported incident that landed Rams WR in rehab originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Puka Nacua has once again been anti-semitic allegations, this time in an alleged incident that also included potential harassment.

The Los Angeles Rams wide receiver was at the center of a temporary restraining order filing that highlighted his behavior from a New Year's Eve incident in Los Angeles. The alleged victim claimed that Nacua used anti-semitic language at a group party that later led to him biting her in the left shoulder.

TMZ later reported that Nacua was also being sued for assault and battery for the incident, and in April, The California Post reported that Nacua checked into a rehab facility in Malibu.

Additionally, TMZ reported in April that the restraining order filing was initially denied, then officially dismissed at the accuser's request, while the lawsuit remains active.

Late in 2025, Nacua faced controversy for his actions on a livestream with internet personality Adin Ross, which has only put more of a spotlight on this case. Here's a breakdown of the report.

Puka Nacua allegations

According to TMZ, a woman filed a temporary restraining order against Puka Nacua over an incident that occurred on New Year's Eve. The report claimed that the two were part of a group party at which Nacua at one point screamed "f--- all the Jews" during dinner, after which Nacua inhabited "rude or vulgar, threatening, violent, and harassing conduct."

The woman then claimed that the group moved the party to a sprinter van, which is when Nacua became "touchy-feely," which included when he "dropped his head into [her] girlfriend's lap and crotch area and bit her thumb so forcefully that she screamed in acute pain." The woman argued that Nacua bit her left shoulder and left a bite mark.

TMZ also reported that the two sides met at a mediation conference in March that also included attorneys and a PR team. The woman said that Nacua's side threatened to distribute "false, inaccurate, and/or deliberately exaggerated public statements" to the media regarding the incident.

TMZ later reported that the attorney of the alleged victim had also filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against Nacua, "citing gender violence, assault and battery, and negligence." The woman claimed she's "suffered actual damages, including physical injury, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and severe emotional distress" due to the incident with Nacua, per TMZ.

Nacua's side has denied the allegations and argued that the bite mark did not break skin and was only temporary. TMZ reports there is a hearing scheduled for April 14; the outlet also reported that Nacua's lawyer said they plan to file a defamation claim.

Puka Nacua temporary restraining order dismissed

On March 27, the alleged victim's attorney, Joseph Kar, told The California Post that he and his client were pulling their request for their restraining order so they could better “focus our efforts” on the lawsuit.

TMZ reported on Apr. 14 that the temporary restraining order had officially been dismissed at the accuser's request, while the lawsuit remained open.

Puka Nacua biting

Part of the allegations made against Nacua was that he bit the alleged victim's left shoulder, leaving a mark that "broke her skin," per TMZ. Nacua allegedly "dropped his head into [the alleged victim] girlfriend's lap and crotch area and bit her thumb so forcefully that she screamed in acute pain," before turning to the alleged victim and "biting her left shoulder and breaking skin, leaving a circular imprint of his teeth."

The woman included a photo of the alleged injury in her TRO application, per TMZ.  Nacua's attorney, Levi McCathern, accused the woman of a "shakedown attempt," per TMZ, but did admit that there was "horseplay," with the bite leaving "nothing more than a temporary mark."

Puka Nacua rehab

On April 1, The California Post reported that Nacua recently checked into a rehab facility. His attorney told the outlet that the Rams receiver has been "at a luxury treatment center in Malibu," although the move was not directly in response to the biting allegations.

“He was in there a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke with Madison,” attorney Levi McCathern told The California Post. “And he’s scheduled to be there for a while longer.”

McCathern also said Nacua's goal in rehab was to "improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life that he can do it," adding that Nacua is "in great spirits" and "doing absolutely fabulous."

Nacua is expected to be out of the facility in "plenty of time" to make it to Rams OTAs in May, per TMZ.

Here is a statement from Nacua's attorney about the player checking into rehab.

NFL statement

The NFL has acknowledged the Nacua situation and provided a brief comment. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told USA Today that "the matter is under review." McCarthy did not expand on whether the NFL was looking into the antisemitic comments or the biting allegations or both.

Puka Nacua antisemetic comments

As part of the allegations against Nacua, the alleged victim claimed that the wide receiver said "f*** all the Jews" during dinner before escalating his behavior later in the night. The woman alleges the incident came just weeks after Nacua was in hot water for doing an anti-semitic action on internet personality Adin Ross' live stream in December 2025.

Puka Nacua lawyer statement

Ahead of the accusation, Nacua's attorney, Levi McCathern, released a statement denying the receiver's actions at the New Year's Eve event. McCathern went as far as calling the accuser's actions "blackmail." Nacua and his legal team are currently working to file a defamation suit against the accuser in response. Here is the official statement released by Nacua's attorney.

Puka Nacua contract

Puka Nacua is entering the final year of his four-year rookie contract with the Rams and is set to earn just over $5 million next season. The wide receiver is due for an extension if Los Angeles wants to keep him around long term.

Will Puka Nacua get suspended?

The NFL will likely review the case to determine if Nacua's action warrant a suspension under the league's personal conduct policy. However, the NFL frequently takes its time with theses kinds of cases.