{
  "id": 10528351,
  "title": "Stephen A Smith Has Harsh Words for Puka Nacua After Rams’ Loss to Broncos",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/stephen-a-smith-has-harsh-words-for-puka-nacua-after-rams-loss-to",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-28T20:37:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/stephen-a-smith-has-harsh-words-for-puka-nacua-after-rams-loss-to-broncos-12498531"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua missed Sunday night's game, as he continues to deal with a groin/hip injury that has sidelined him for the past two weeks. The team is treating this injury as short-term, but his availability for the upcoming Week 4 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles remains uncertain. Following the Rams' 30-26 loss to the Denver Broncos, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith expressed his frustration with Nacua on First Take. \"There's only 17 games in the season, my brother, get your [expletive] out there,\" Smith declared. \"Puka Nacua, you've been a distraction off the field. We don't talk about it. We don't bring it up. But we expect to see you on the field.\" Nacua's performance in Week 1 fell short of his elite standards, as he caught five passes for 74 yards and scored no touchdowns. In the previous season, he set a league-high with 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Rams are set to face the Eagles at 1 p.m. ET in their next game.",
  "summary": "ESPN's Stephen A. Smith delivered a harsh message to Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua after his second absence.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}