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Rams WR Puka Nacua entered training camp fresh off a tumultuous year, which saw him land in the headlines for everything from an antisemitic gesture to an allegation that he bit a woman.
Nacua ultimately spent time in a rehab facility, and the Rams sent a message by letting the Pro-Bowler enter the final year of his rookie contract without a long-term deal.
Ahead of Thursday's season opener, Nacua spoke candidly to Netflix about how he navigated what he calls the "darkest times" of his life.
Here's a look at what Nacua had to say.
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Puka Nacua opens up about alcohol issues
Nacua revealed to Netflix's Elle Duncan that he battled alcohol issues before spending time in a "holistic rehabilitation center" during the offseason.
The 25-year-old said he became dependent on alcohol due partly to stress caused by the "change in lifestyle" that came with becoming an NFL star.
"Just, I think, some of the change in lifestyle that came unto me, becoming a public figure, the stress of performing at a high level," Nacua said when asked what caused his stress. "And then I recently became a father. My son is 10 months old, and navigating that co-parenting relationship with his mother, I would kind of isolate myself to feel, like, the weight of all the issues and things that I have was stuck on my shoulders and not being willing to ask for help."
Puka Nacua opened up about turning to alcohol to cope with the pressures of stardom.
“I was always finding different ways to escape… alcohol was definitely a thing for me.”
Now, the #Rams WR says he wants to become someone his son can be proud of.
These struggles manifested into public incidents, including a video that showed Nacua clearly intoxicated in February and an alleged incident in which he bit a woman while celebrating New Year's Eve weeks earlier.
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Nacua said his "avoidant" nature led him to stray from conflict and instead choose alcohol.
"I think one, alcohol was definitely a thing for me. Just kind of drowning myself, so that the issues and the stress that I was feeling never had the opportunity to be addressed," Nacua said.
Nacua explained that rehab helped him address his underlying struggles, and he turned to journaling as a way to deal with his emotions.
As his fourth NFL season plays out, Nacua has every reason to avoid controversy. The Rams star is set to become a free agent in March, though the franchise tag looms as a way to keep him off the open market. Whether or not he does hit free agency, Nacua is in line for a massive contract if he can prove his off-field incidents are behind him.
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