Last week, I wrote about 5 Los Angeles Rams players that exceeded expectations in 2025. But just as every story as “feel good” moments, there is also typically hardship and misfortune. Sometimes, a player does
not make the 53 man roster out of training camp. Maybe a player suffers a season-ending injury. Or maybe a player just doesn’t pan out when given an opportunity on the field. Despite a successful 12-5 season, the Rams did have a few individuals that just did not live up to their contract or expectation of performance…
1. Tutu Atwell, WR
Tutu is the number one choice for all Rams fans and TurfShowTimes readers. It came as a surprise to a lot of people when the Rams elected to resign Tutu to a 1 year $10 million deal this past offseason. After seeing limited playing time in 2024, many seemed skeptical why LA would offer a sizable contract to a player that has played so little for Sean McVay’s offense.
Even despite Sean McVay admitting his shortsightedness with Tutu in 2024, McVay failed to use the wide receiver again in 2025. After suffering a hamstring midway through the season, Tutu was barely used again and was even a healthy inactive in the playoffs. Atwell had the makings of being a good WR3 behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams but we never saw it come to full fruition.
2. Rob Havenstein, RT
Big Rob has been a staple for the Rams franchise since he was drafted in 2015 under Jeff Fisher (LOL). But unfortunately, Havenstein was just not able to be healthy at all this year. Even when the Rams were in Hawaii before the season, the 11 year veteran was seen with a sleeve on his leg. Havenstein was the game 1 starting right tackle but was only able to play 7 games this year. However, after reaggravating his ankle and knee injuries, Warren McClendon never relinquished the job and Havenstein served as his backup. With an $11.3 million cap hit, the Rams really never saw much of that in the form of on-field production.
3. Akhello Witherspoon & Darious Williams, DBs
Akhello Witherspoon and Darious Williams have played for the Rams for 3 years and 6 years respectively. However, both have likely seen their tenures with the franchise end after being in and out of the lineup at various points throughout the year. At times, both were healthy inactives. With the Rams secondary being mediocre at best throughout the year, neither grabbed a starting job when the team needed it most.
4. Joshua Karty, K
The special teams woes started with Karty but did not end with him. After a successful rookie campaign, the Rams expected stability at the place kicker position in 2025. Karty was even recognized early in the year for his “dirty” kicks on special teams kickoffs. However, it was speculated that those dirty kicks contributed to some of Karty’s misses in the field goal operation. Karty missed five field goals and three extra points in 8 games. The blocked field goals in Week 3 at Philadelphia left a season-long sting as the Rams knew they had blown a great opportunity to not only avenge their divisional loss last year but also to seize control of the NFC early in the year.
5. Braden Fiske, iDL
It hurts putting Fiske on this list but the truth is, he needs to be more for the Rams moving forward. His rookie campaign was solid. But 2025 was simply underwhelming. Fiske accumulated just 3 sacks in the 2025 season (he had 2 in the playoffs) and 4 tackles for loss.
With the Rams having traded a pair of 2nd round picks to move up in the 2024 NFL Draft to select him, the former Florida State Seminole needs to produce more to justify his spot. Especially given that he is a pass rush first interior defensive lineman, Fiske’s sack totals can’t be that low, especially as he enters a pivotal third season.
There you have it! The five Rams players that exceeded expectations and the five that performed below expectations! Who are your early bets for those categories for the 2026 season?
