At 24, Puka Nacua is coming off a solid year after leading the NFL with 129 receptions and finishing second in receiving yards with 1,715. PFF also ranked him as the league’s best receiver with a 96.3 grade.
His best performance? In Weeks 14–16, Nacua totaled 573 receiving yards, 28 catches, and four touchdowns. Only two players since 1999, including Calvin Johnson, have surpassed that three-game total.
Nacua is entering the final year of his rookie contract. While he is eligible for an extension that could reset the wide receiver market, reports indicate that negotiations may “take a while” due to the ongoing legal situation and the team’s other financial priorities.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua
Jan 25, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) reacts after a catch against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half in the 2026 NFC Championship Game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Just to recap, a lawsuit involving a New Year’s Eve incident has followed him into the offseason and recently took a new turn.
Puka Nacua’s lawyer blasts accuser as she withdraws restraining order
Madison Atiabi, the woman accusing Nacua of biting her and making antisemitic remarks during a group outing in Los Angeles, voluntarily withdrew her application for a temporary restraining order.
Her lawyer, Joseph Kar, said they dropped the restraining order request to focus on the civil lawsuit filed last Wednesday. While a judge had already denied the initial request for an immediate order, calling for more evidence at an April 14 hearing, the LAPD is still investigating the claims. Afterwards, Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, fired back in the best way possible.
“The TRO was withdrawn because it was completely meritless, just like the lawsuit,” McCathernsaid. “They continue to make up stories trying to turn this minor episode into big dollars. In the end, they are going to be paying Puka and not the other way around.”
Puka Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, reacts to the Rams star’s accuser dropping her request for a protective order — and reaffirms his intent to sue:
“The TRO was withdrawn because it was completely meritless – just like the lawsuit. They continue to make up stories trying to… https://t.co/hZNlfKR5d3
— michael j. babcock (@mikejbabcock) March 28, 2026
McCathern explicitly called the situation a “shakedown attempt” and “blackmail,” claiming the accuser’s side demanded millions of dollars to keep the story private. He has reportedly vowed to file a defamation lawsuit against the accuser in response to what he calls false and damaging statements.
He did acknowledge there was some physical contact n but described it as horseplay, saying it resulted in nothing more than a temporary mark, and has also denied Nacua ever made an antisemitic comment.
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Nacua is entering the final year of his rookie deal and was expected to seek a contract topping Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s record-breaking $42.15 million per year extension. Reports indicate the franchise is evaluating his legal outcome closely before finalizing a decision.