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Rams WR Puka Nacua ejected for hitting Seahawks LB Tyrel Dodson
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Rams WR Puka Nacua ejected for hitting Seahawks LB Tyrel Dodson

Puka Nacua was sent off on Sunday for throwing a punch. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Puka Nacua was sent off on Sunday for throwing a punch. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was ejected Sunday for punching Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson.

The blow happened when the Seahawks had a 6-3 lead late in the second quarter. Matthew Stafford targeted Nacua with a downfield pass on first-and-10 from the Los Angeles 44-yard line.

Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen intercepted the ball at Seattle’s 25-yard line and came down through contact. Woolen tried to return the ball, apparently not realizing it was down.

Dodson engaged with Nacua to block him as Woolen ran with the ball. Nacua, apparently realizing the game was over and frustrated by the turnover, struck Dodson in the side of Dodson’s helmet with his right fist.

Officials saw the blow and flagged Nakua for unnecessary roughness. They ejected him from the match, but Nakua did not immediately leave the field. He sat on the bench for several moments before finally running to the locker room with 17 seconds left in the half to the cheers of the Seattle home crowd.

The turnover and penalty left Seattle with the ball at its own 40-yard line with 27 seconds left in the half. The Seahawks responded with a three-play, 60-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith to Jaxon Smith-Njigba to extend their lead to 13-3 before halftime.

For Nakua, the incident adds to a rough season for the second-year wide receiver who broke out with a Pro Bowl campaign as a rookie. Nakua suffered a PCL injury in the Rams’ season opener and missed the next five games.

He returned in Week 8 and had seven catches for 106 yards in a 30–20 win over the Minnesota Vikings, showing the upside he showed as a rookie that made him a top target in fantasy football. But he left Sunday’s game with just one catch for 11 yards and his Rams trailing the NFC West rival Seahawks.