Sudden depths overtime loss

Nacua taking a difficult route to learning lessons

- DYLAN HERNÁNDEZ

Puka Nacua promised he would learn from his mistakes, but his pledge was unconvincing.

His speech was rushed. What he said barely made any sense.

And there was this: On Thursday night, two days after criticizing referees on a livestream, Nacua posted a sarcastic message about the officials following the Rams' 38-37 overtime defeat by the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.

"Can you say I was wrong," he wrote on X. "Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol"

The post quickly was deleted. The questions about Nacua's judgment remained.

Nacua, 24, is in line for a monster contract extension in the upcoming offseason, as the Rams view their record-breaking receiver as a cornerstone. But here he was basically repeating a mistake he made only two days earlier, which can't be what any team wants from its most popular player.

Are the Rams really about to entrust him with the responsibility of projecting their virtues? Ironically, the most controversial aspect of his recent livestream appearance could be the most defensible. Hours before the Rams played the Seahawks, Nacua offered an explanation for the antisemitic gesture he made on a show with livestreamers Adin Ross and N3on.

"At the time," Nacua posted on Instagram, "I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people." The story was believable.