Puka Nacua has been in the news for weeks now over an alleged biting controversy that took place on New Year’s Eve. Now, his attorney, Levi McCathern, has offered a fresh insight into the Los Angeles Rams wide receiver’s rehab treatment. Many thought the player pulled off this move to shift the narrative after Madison Atiabi’s lawsuit. However, McCathern claims Nacua has been opting for the treatment for a while to improve himself. 

“He was in there a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke with Madison,” McCathern said via the New York Post. “And he’s scheduled to be there for a while longer.”

Puka Nacua has been undergoing treatment in a luxury rehab center in Malibu for a while now, according to his attorney. According to McCathern, Puka Nacua aims to “improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life.”

He stated it was not a direct response to the alleged biting incident. Still, McCathern did admit that the controversy-related stories and the resulting unwanted attention played some part in his decision to continue with the rehab.

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Interestingly, Nacua had a sterling 2025 season and is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Experts have predicted him to land a hefty contract with an annual salary between $42.5 million and $45 million. So, he would like to take all necessary precautions to prevent a controversy from tarnishing his image. 

Meanwhile, the center deals with patients fighting a variety of issues, including drug and alcohol addiction, chronic pain, and conditions related to mental health. At the time of publication, Nacua’s team hadn’t shared the details of his treatment, but it could be related to alcoholism. Recently, his attorney showed pride that the wideout has taken a meaningful step this offseason. 

“I have talked to him,” McCathern said on Wednesday. “He’s in great spirits. I think he’s doing absolutely fabulous. I’m just really excited for how he’s going to look next year. For as great as he was, I think he’s going to be even better going forward.”

In March, the New York Post captured the Rams’ wide receiver on two separate visits to the rehab center. On one such occasion, he was seen sporting a baggy t-shirt and gym shorts. He also hugged an unidentified woman who visited him back then. For the record, this isn’t the first time Nacua has grabbed headlines for his drunken shenanigans.

The paparazzi captured him dancing and stumbling on the streets of California during the first week of the Super Bowl. The next one came to light on March 24, when Madison Atiabi filed a restraining order against the NFL star. 

Puka Nacua faces a lawsuit for a New Year’s incident

In her complaint about the December 31 incident, plaintiff Madison Atiabi and her attorney, Joseph Kar, claimed that Puka Nacua physically “attacked” Atiabi after getting drunk. It was during a night out in Los Angeles for the New Year’s celebrations with common friends. According to filings, the player made the plaintiff uncomfortable throughout the party after consuming alcohol at dinner.

They later hopped on a van to arrive at the next pre-decided spot. It was when she claimed Nacua bit her shoulder, piercing through her skin and leaving visible marks. She revealed that the bite resulted in “immediate and severe physical pain.” 

On March 25, just one day after she requested a restraining order, Atiabi also filed a lawsuit against Nacua. According to her lawyer, Joseph Kar, they withdrew their request for a restraining order to better concentrate their efforts on pursuing the case. On the other hand, Puka’s attorney brushed off the claims that he made any antisemitic remarks. While McCathern faced Atiabi’s biting allegations openly, he firmly maintained that Nacua’s behavior was simply “mutual horseplay.”

“They continue to make up stories trying to turn this minor episode into big dollars,” McCathern said about the complaint last week. “In the end, they are going to be paying Puka and not the other way around.”

Head coach Sean McVay recently backed his wideout, saying he trusts him and doesn’t want to jump the gun. But as the investigation unfolds, more details could further jeopardize Puka Nacua’s image.

For now, the player is focusing on bettering himself and re-shaping public opinion. It remains to be seen if the situation could have any implications for his upcoming NFL season.