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Rams head coach Sean McVay is standing by Puka Nacua after the wide receiver made what’s been identified as an antisemitic gesture during a Tuesday livestream.
“I know this guy’s heart,” McVay said Thursday. “For anybody that was offended, terribly sorry about that. I know he feels that same exact way.” McVay emphasized that Nacua is “a young guy” and “a great kid that’s continuing to learn about the platform that he has.”
Nacua didn’t wait long to address the situation. In a statement released Thursday morning, he apologized for performing a gesture that was “antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people.” The second-year receiver claimed he “had no idea” of the gesture’s meaning when he made it.
The coach isn’t backing away from supporting his star receiver.
“I love him, we’re going to continue to put our arm around him and help him learn and grow,” McVay said. “But we never want to do things that ever offend anybody, and I know he feels that same way.”
Nacua described his conversation with McVay, noting that his coach “echoed that he’s always in continuous support of me” while also being “disappointed in some of the actions that are just distracting my teammates.”
“I don’t want to be a distraction in any week and especially in a short week,” Nacua explained. “So we had talked about that, and he’s right there behind me.”
Whatever off-field issues existed, they didn’t impact Nacua’s performance.
McVay dismissed any notion that the controversy affected team preparation. “No, it wasn’t a distraction at all,” the coach said after Thursday’s game against Seattle. “He went off today.”
That might be an understatement. Nacua torched the Seahawks defense for 12 catches, 225 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams’ heartbreaking 38-37 overtime loss. According to ESPN Research, those 225 yards represent the most by any Rams receiver since Isaac Bruce’s 233-yard performance in 1997. It also marked Nacua’s third straight game with at least 150 receiving yards – tying the longest such streak in NFL history.
Following the defeat, Nacua stirred more controversy with a tweet: “Can you say i was wrong. Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol.” The post appeared to reference comments he made during Tuesday’s livestream when he called NFL referees “the worst” and suggested some make calls just to get TV time.
When questioned about these comments after Thursday’s game, Nacua quickly backtracked. “No, I don’t,” he said when asked if he truly believes referees make calls to appear on television.
“It was just a lack of awareness and just in some frustration,” he explained. “I know there were moments where I feel like, man, you watch the other games and you think of the calls that some guys get and you wish you could get some of those, but that’s just how football has played.”
As for his post-game tweet, Nacua chalked it up to “a moment of frustration after a tough, intense game like that.”
The second-year star seems to recognize the learning opportunity in this difficult week.
“Just there is a time and place for some things,” Nacua reflected when asked what he’s learned. “There are comments that I should definitely say to the guys in the locker room and to be aware of the situation that we’re in, but then also just to stay and use every moment to prepare for the week.”
