Rams News: Puka Nacua Chalks Referee Criticism Up To Frustration

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua had an eventful week, which included openly criticizing NFL officiating leading up to the team’s Week 16 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.

The game was a big one as the winner controlled their destiny for the NFC West crown and the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC. Unfortunately, the Rams were not able to hang onto a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter and wound up losing on a two-point conversion in overtime.

Despite the loss, Nacua had a superhero effort for the Rams as he has a career day with 12 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns in the absence of Davante Adams.

Again though, Nacua was not happy with some calls that went against the Rams, including an overturned two-point conversion that tied the game in the fourth quarter, and he immediately took to social media to criticize the referees in a now-deleted post, via Nate Atkins of The Athletic:

Puka Nacua deleted this tweet he sent immediately after the game: https://t.co/gDaWcWIUNZ pic.twitter.com/hWtGwXn18W

— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) December 19, 2025

Once Nacua had a chance to cool off after the loss, he chalked up his post to frustration and walked back his previous take about officiating, via Sarah Barshop of ESPN:

When asked Thursday night whether he believes that referees make calls to be on TV, Nacua said, “No, I don’t.”

“It was just a lack of awareness and just in some frustration,” Nacua said. “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, and I’ll do my job in order to work my technique to make sure that there’s not an issue with the call.”

As for the tweet, Nacua said he sent it in “a moment of frustration after a tough, intense game like that.”

Nacua had already apologized for some of his actions throughout the week, but he again emphasized that he doesn’t want to be a distraction and has the support of Sean McVay and the Rams:

“I don’t want to be a distraction in any week and especially in a short week,” Nacua said. “So we had talked about that, and he’s right there behind me.”

Nacua is an extremely talented player, but this week was a learning experience for him as far as handling himself off the field given that there are consequences for his words and actions.

While the loss to the Seahawks is a tough one to swallow, Nacua and the Rams will now shift their focus to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17 as they look to end the regular season strong and head into the playoffs on a high note.

Puka Nacua apologizes for antisemitic gesture

Puka Nacua also made headlines this week for making an antisemitic gesture on a livestream, although he issued an apology not knowing the significance of what he was doing at the time.