Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was uncertain to play in Week 9 with a knee injury but ended up being active.
However, Nacua didn’t make it to the end of the game for non-injury-related reasons, getting ejected in the second quarter versus the Seattle Seahawks.
Here’s a look at what went down and why Nacua is out of the game.
Why Was Puka Nacua Ejected?
With 33 seconds left in the first half, Matthew Stafford was intercepted on a pass intended for Nacua. Behind the play, Nacua threw a punch at Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson.
PUKA NACUA JUST THREW A PUNCH AND GOT EJECTED pic.twitter.com/VNMLvtSupM
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) November 3, 2024
It’s unclear if Dodson was instigating Nacua or didn’t realize that cornerback Riq Woolen (who intercepted the pass) was already ruled down by contact.
In reviewing the incident, the FOX broadcast didn’t have much disagreement with the disqualification call.
Nacua was questionable after aggravating a knee injury leading up to the game but ended up being active. He finished the game with one catch for 11 yards on four targets.
Nacua Doesn’t Instigate Fight But Tossed For Throwing Punch
As the video indicates, Dodson was the first one who made contact. But the adage is that the referees will always catch the second one to enter the fight, and that appears to be the case here.
After the game, Nacua met with reporters and said he watched the remainder of the game from the locker room, making friends with a police officer. He said this was the first time he has ever been ejected at any level and that Rams head coach Sean McVay told him that this was “a learning moment.”
Puka Nacua has never been ejected before at any level. He watched the Rams OT walk off win in the locker room alone. Going crazy jumping up and down, pacing. The only other person in the locker room was a police officer who Puka said wasn’t happy with the outcome. “He’s been a… pic.twitter.com/6IMwyAFXkf
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) November 4, 2024
Because of the ejection, Nacua has still only started and finished one game this season. That was Los Angeles’ Week 8 win on Thursday night over the Minnesota Vikings.
After a record-breaking 2023 in which Nacua set rookie records in both receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486), 2024 has been much harsher. The second-year pro missed five games after a PCL injury in his right knee, returning last week.
Nacua only has 12 catches for 152 yards on the season. While there’s still plenty of season left to make up for it, Nacua will hope the second half of 2024 is far kinder to him as the Rams attempt to make a playoff push in a muddled NFC West.