When Puka Nacua decided to go to rehab, former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh delivered a poignant message to the embattled Rams star, who has been accused of biting a woman while drunk on New Year’s Eve.
“When he told me this, I was like, ‘Good, it’s about time. Just make sure when you’re in there, you’re making the most of it. Don’t just be in there to be in there, make sure you’re a better Puka when you come out,'” Houshmandzadeh said on his “Speakeasy” show Wednesday, the same day The California Post exclusively reported Nacua had checked into a Malibu treatment center.
It’s been a roller-coaster of an offseason for Nacua, whose off-field activities have continued to dominate the news cycle since he concluded his third season with the Rams.
Last month, a woman sought a restraining order against Nacua, whom she accused of biting her and stating, “F–k all the Jews,” during a Dec. 31, 2025 outing in Los Angeles.
The woman, Madison Atiabi, took further legal action against Nacua in late March when she filed a lawsuit accusing the 24-year-old wideout of gender violence, assault and battery and negligence.
Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, told The California Post that while the decision to enter treatment was not a direct response to the lawsuit, “The combination of stories y’all have run is certainly a contributing factor.”
Houshmandzadeh, who is close with Nacua, said Wednesday he is “happy” the two-time Pro Bowler is focusing on himself and putting in the work.
The California Post reported in April 2026 that Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is in rehab. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images “He called me, he told me, and I told him that’s good, you need something, let me know,” said Houshmandzadeh, who played for the Bengals, Seahawks, Ravens and Raiders across 11 seasons.
“… Puka is not a good person. He’s a great person. All he wants to do is laugh, smile and have fun. And I think everything that has come at him in such a short period of time, cause when you say Puka, everybody knows who you’re talking about now, that just gotta step away. And really now, who in your corner? Who really wants to see you succeed and be successful because when we on the come up, everybody want us to get to the top, and as soon as we get to the top, everybody want to pull us down. And so, you gotta be happy with the people that’s happy to see you there, even though they not there. And when they not there, they want to pull you down. And Puka called me, he let me know and I was happy for him because I had been telling him, maybe you don’t have to check into something, but start talking with somebody and he took it a step further and did this on his own.”
McCathern said Nacua, the Rams’ fifth-round pick in 2023, “was in there a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke with Madison,” and “he’s scheduled to be there for a while longer.”
Puka Nacua is coming off his third season with the Rams. Getty Images “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,” the attorney said Wednesday.
Nacua tallied career-highs in receptions (129), touchdowns (10) and yards (1,715) during the 2025 regular season.
The Rams reached the NFC Championship game but fell short to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks, 31-27.
