The Los Angeles Rams are looking for a new player to fair catch punts for the rest of the season. Sean McVay told reporters this week that Kyren Williams and Tutu Atwell are the leaders in the clubhouse to win a job that nobody really wants because it only comes with dire consequences and no upside.
The Rams have already released two punt returners during this season in Xavier Smith and Alex Bachman. It’s not that Williams or Atwell are in danger of being released, but they also don’t have anything
to gain and that’s why the only real outcome left is to simply make sure you don’t muff or fumble the punt.
If you think that McVay is worried about Williams’ health on punt returns, you’re seeing this job the wrong way. All he’s going to do if he gets the job is throw his hand up in the air and make a fair catch. That’s the most that McVay can hope for at this point after years of stumbling through special teams additions. Williams has six career punt returns in the NFL and an average of 6.6 yards per return. He had 14 punt returns in his final year at Notre Dame.
There’s no hope of breaking one off for 60 yards. This is a “fair catch” job only.
Atwell had 10 punt returns in 2021 and four punt returns in college. He’d only be out there to fair catch the ball.
Ronnie Rivers is set to be activated this week and he has more extensive college returning experience than either of those players. He would also just fair catch the punt.
Brennan Presley and Bachman (re-signed a day after he was released) would also be options from the practice squad.
What would be their assignment if McVay asked them to return punts?
Fair catch.
That’s all the job is. Don’t muff. Let’s see who can handle it.
