LOS ANGELES -- Wide receiver Puka Nacua said he is "grateful for the support" from the Los Angeles Rams organization after a civil lawsuit was filed against him in March.
On Thursday, Nacua spoke for the first time since the lawsuit was filed by a woman in Los Angeles alleging Nacua made an "unprovoked antisemitic statement" and later bit her on the shoulder. The lawsuit cites gender violence, assault and battery, and negligence.
Nacua declined to address specifics about the lawsuit and night in question, calling it "an ongoing legal battle." In March, Nacua's attorney, Levi McCathern, said in a statement obtained by ABC News that Nacua denies the allegations in the lawsuit "in the strongest possible terms."
When asked about the allegations Thursday, Nacua did say it was "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."
"I've been really grateful for the support from the organization, especially my teammates," Nacua said. "People reaching out at different times of the offseason, just checking in. ... 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."
Part of that support, Nacua said, is taking part in therapy. Nacua also spent time in rehab this spring.
"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 said.
In December, Nacua issued a statement apologizing for performing a gesture on an internet livestream that was "antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people." He made the gesture with two internet streamers, who suggested he perform the gesture as part of his next touchdown celebration. In the statement, Nacua said "at the time he had no idea" of the nature of the gesture.
On Thursday, Rams coach Sean McVay said he has "appreciated" Nacua's "ability to kind of let me in."
"It's really cool to be able to just see the direction that he's on, and we'll have our arm around him and continue to support him throughout," McVay said.
Nacua, a fifth-round pick in 2023, is entering the final season of his rookie contract and is now eligible to sign a contract extension. In March, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba signed a contract extension that made him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history.
When asked whether he feels comfortable in 2026 playing without a contract extension, Nacua said he hasn't "really thought about it."
"I know that my job is to come up here and to be with the guys and go out there and compete every single day and that's been kind of my mindset," Nacua said. "If I can continue to improve as a person, I know that the coaches and the people around me are helping me improve as a football player. So those are the things that I can control and then hopefully allow those other things to handle themselves."
