Later, quarterback Matthew Stafford’s pass intended for Nacua was intercepted by cornerback Riq Woolen, Nacua became involved in a fight with linebacker Tyrel Dodson. Nacua threw a punch at Dodson and was once banned from the sport.
Nacua said it was a “helpless feeling” watching the game through the storage room, pointing to a mini TV in the corner where he was watching the Fox broadcast but listening to the Seahawks broadcast. The Rams came back to win in overtime and then Seattle scored with less than a little too much in the law.
“Some things were said early in the game and I just let my emotions get the best of me and reacted instead of responding at the time,” Nacua mentioned when asked what happened in the games. “I knew the play was over after the interception, and he just had some hands on me while I was trying to get blocked. So I was just making sure I could defend myself and get ready to see what was happening on the next play.”
Stafford called Nacua “a smart, conscientious kid,” and said he’s “not worried” about the second-year receiver.
“Obviously, that’s nothing he wants to do,” Stafford said. “He doesn’t want to not be able to be out there and play with us and all that kind of stuff. It’s a little frustrating start to the game, and that guy made a great play with that ball.
“And sometimes emotion gets the most productive people. But they gave me a general consideration and confidence in their ability to respond and understand what are the things that we can’t do. And as clear as it is sometimes “Sometimes, for avoid those problems, you were given to do it and I was given the wrong questions about how it will move forward.
Nacua, who was active Sunday after an injury during Thursday’s practice, had one catch for 11 yards before the ejection. He had participated in 26 of 30 offensive plays.
Nacua missed five games this season on injured reserve with a knee injury. He returned from IR in Week 8, finishing as the team’s leading receiver in that game.
The Seahawks scored after fumbling and taking a 15-yard penalty on Nacua to take a 13-3 lead into halftime on Sunday.
After the game, Rams coach Sean McVay said Nacua’s emotions are “one of the biggest things we love about him, but you’ll be able to tell him off of that.”
“Just, ‘We’re smarter than that,'” McVay said when asked what he said to Nacua after his ejection. “I love him… One of the best things he has is the feelings and the way he loves to compete with his teammates and do everything he can to contribute. And then I also know how extraordinary it is to have what [Aaron Donald] prevented from naming at all times the aggression he achieved.
“And then he’ll learn from it. He’s exactly the right kind of guy, and this was a learning opportunity, and we all make mistakes and I’m looking forward to seeing him respond the way I know how.” he is able to do.”
