Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua appears to have not been slighting Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold at all, despite drawing plenty of attention to himself during the Super Bowl for that very reason.
Nacua is coming off leading the NFL in receptions during the regular season, earning Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors.
He is also heading into a big offseason with the Rams.
Puka Nacua Vindicated
GettyPuka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Nacua caused a stir with a post on X during the Super Bowl that said “Sam Darnold” with a laughing emoji, drawing strong reactions from former Rams and current Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones afterward.
However, a Fox Sports’ Kev Mahserejian noted that Nacua was not mocking Darnold.
“Ok we owe puka an apology,” Mahserejian posted on X on February 9. “He was laughing at sam darnold refusing a lift up from the patriots not darnold winning this game.”
Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings can be seen extending an arm to help Darnold up before retracting it and holding his hands up to show he meant no animosity in light of the Seahawks passer’s reaction.
“You see this @ernestjones ????” a fan posted in reaction to Mahserejian’s revelation.
Jones posted, “Ain’t you at home. Goofy a**” in reaction to Nacua’s purported critique of his teammate.
A fan noted that Nacua–who celebrated former Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp winning his second Super Bowl, as Jones did, with the Seahawks–had “spread love” as part of the message in his bio.
Nacua simply responded, “This is good,” and has not posted since.
Ernest Jones IV No Love Lost for Rams
GettyErnest Jones IV #13 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates an interception during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers.
Jones’ issues with the Rams extended beyond Nacua this past season. He is roughly 18 months removed from his trade to the Tennessee Titans, but admitted feeling some type of way about the end of his tenure in LA.
After the Seahawks came back to defeat the Rams in Week 16, Jones took aim.
“Laughin’, man. Crazy. It was disrespectful,” Ernest Jones said, per The Tacoma News Tribune’s Gregg Bell in December. “There was too much time on the clock.”
Jones was also candid after the Seahawks beat the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
“It’s always hard, honestly. I poured a lot into that program. And to go out the way I did, I didn’t like it,” Jones told NFL Networks’ Stacey Dales on the field postgame. “But it is what it is. I’m glad I’m here with these guys. We won, going to the Super Bowl. I’m just thankful.”
Jones had yet to address the clarification about Nacua, instead celebrating Kupp, Darnold, and his team’s win.
Puka Nacua Expected to Get Contract Extension
GettyPuka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Nacua is extension-eligible this offseason and, despite some of his actual controversial moments, has given the Rams every reason to secure his services long-term at their earliest convenience.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert listed Nacua among those he expects to get new money this offseason.
Nacua is not alone, though, with Seifert also listing Rams defensive end Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young as possibilities.
Nacua’s deal will be the most substantial. But the Rams plan on being aggressive around Matthew Stafford, and that plan almost certainly includes keeping Nacua in the mix for the rest of the reigning MVP’s tenure and beyond.
Former Rams Teammate Called Out Over Puka Nacua After Comments