Six candidates for the Rams punt return job
With regards to the Los Angeles Rams particular groups, followers are chafing and coaches are desperately trying to correct the steering of a unit that careening in direction of catastrophe. The most up-to-date transfer got here late this week when L.A. parted ways with Xavier Smith, the Rams main punt returner of three seasons. The launch needs to be thought-about a largely symbolic transfer At this level, the Rams merely do not have quite a lot of choices to improve his absence. Any transfer made this near recreation day shouldn’t be construed as everlasting.
The L.A. braintrust does certainly have some in-house choices, however shouldn’t be afraid to drag the set off on a participant from the skin that may enhance the lineup.
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Trying to take a look at the scenario with a view longer than simply the Philadelphia Eagles game, who can the Rams resolve upon to rejuvenate their return recreation?
The present L.A. roster holds a few in-house choices and a scan of accessible free brokers supplies six names that stand out as potential season-long replacements. Actually seven with the addition of Kyren Williams and though his profile will not be on this train, the percentages would favor him being the eventual selection.
I knew I had that laying round someplace
Alex Bachman – ( age 30) 5′ 11″ 195 lb.
Originally signed by the Rama as an undrafted free agent again in 2019. He made stops with the New York Giants (2019-22), Houston Texans (1922-24), and Las Vegas Raiders (2025) earlier than re-joining the Rams this August previous. Over that six-year span, he is performed in 22 video games with one begin, totaling 151 reps on offense and 213 on particular groups.
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With 22 punt returns, final season with the Raiders was his first as a crew’s main returner. He accrued a modest 124 yards for a 5.6 common. His lengthy was 25 yards and he had one fumble on the season. He has additionally put in work on protection groups, making 9 tackles over the pst two seasons. Bachman is bodily greater than most returners and it might be fascinating to have entry to his present pace numbers. Coming out in 2019, he ran a 4.47 forty with a 1. 58 10-yard cut up, fairly just like the person he endeavors to interchange, Xavier Smith, only a shade much less burst.
Brennan Presley – ( age 24) 5′ 8″ 175 lb.
The Rams plucked him from the undrafted ranks in 2025. He suits the Rams mould of over-achievers that win with effort, toughness, and soccer IQ. With his 4.53 forty and 1.64 cut up, Presley will not be tremendous quick. He is nevertheless an excellent open-field runner and was a extremely productive returner in faculty. On offense, he exhibits wonderful palms and is a disciplined route runner. He has a stash of receiving/return data at Oklahoma State.
Tutu Atwell – ( age 27) 5′ 9″ 165 lb.
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Yes, I’m going to throw his hat into the ring. Whether the Rams do something to suit his skillset into the offense or not, Atwell does have the instruments for the punt returner/WR 4 function. Unless he exhibits to be a fumbler in follow, he has proven a capability to trace deep passes and at 4.39 within the forty and a1.49 cut up, he most actually has the burst and lengthy pace. He is a linear runner, not a darter, extra of a swerver. As a rookie (2021), he did some return work (10 punts, 5 kickoffs) with out distinction earlier than a shoulder harm lower his season brief.
Life within the streets
Ray Ray McCloud – (age 29) 5′ 10 190 lb.
McCloud has made his bones as a vagabond return man. He started his NFL profession as a Round 6 decide of the Buffalo Bills in 2018 and has made stops with the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, and Chicago Bears. All informed, performed 766 particular groups reps over 100 video games. Not restricted simply return for, McCloud has 24 begins and 2512 reps at huge receiver.
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While his numbers have been decline the previous couple of seasons and his pace testing of 4.49 forty and 1.56 cut up is probably not correct anymore, McCloud has 140 punts for a 9.5 common and 126 kickoffs at a 23 yard charge. He’s additionally added 159 receptions and a catch charge of 67.4 %.
Tahj Washington – (age 25) 5′ 10″ 174 lb.
A Round 7 choice by the Miami Dolphins in 2024. He was injured early in camp and spent the season on the Injured Reserve List. In 2025, he noticed motion in six video games with one begin 45 snaps on offense and curiously, solely 4 on particular groups. Miami lower him this August
And the Philadelphia Eagles signed, solely to launch him in last cuts.
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Washington is completely different from the opposite candidates in that he’s not an skilled returner, solely taking a handful in faculty and the NFL preseason. While not having elite pace or burst, 4.52 forty and 1.63 cut up, he was, nevertheless, an excellent receiver in faculty with a present for playmaking within the open area. He was also called a troublesome competitor on protection models and by his personal reporting, selected to take part on particular groups, even after grew to become an offensive starter.
Mecole Hardman – (age 28) 5′ 10″ 187 lb.
A former Round 2 decide in 2019 of the Kansas City Chiefs. Although he by no means grew to become a full-time starter on offense, Hardman was a play making risk each as a receiver and kick returner. He
mixed 4.33 pace within the forty and a 1.48 10-yard cut up with good open-field strikes.
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Over seven seasons, Hardman has performed in 97 video games with 28 begins, stacking up 2168 reps on offense and one other 455 on particular groups. Amongst the latter, he has returned 91 punts for 823 yards and 46 kickoff’s for twenty-four.7 per..
Who you gonna name?
The Rams braintrust has selected— Alex Bachman. Put into service off the follow squad.
Stu Jackson of therams.com experiences,
“McVay stated huge receiver Alex Bachman, who’s presently on the crew’s follow squad, will step into the punt returner function. Asked if he anticipates long-term making an attempt to work some guys out to see in the event that they could be suits at punt returner, McVay stated “I believe I’m to see how Alex does…”We’re at all times taking a look at if there’s means of enhancing the caliber of our crew,” McVay stated. “Those might be avenues that we’ll at all times discover inside no matter parameters that we are able to try this inside, and so I would definitely by no means say no. But I’m additionally optimistic that I believe we’re gonna see some great things from Alex on Sunday.”
While most Rams followers weren’t sad to see the transfer made to jettison Xavier Smith, I’ve to surprise what number of would take into account this transfer an improve. Although Bachman fielded a good quantity of kicks for the Las Vegas Raiders final 12 months, he doesn’t have a historical past as a returner., neither is he generally known as an open-field runner. His manufacturing was solely mediocre It seems a lateral transfer, at greatest.
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While most Rams followers weren’t sad to see the transfer made to jettison Xavier Smith, I’ve to surprise what number of would take into account this transfer an improve. Although Bachman fielded a good quantity of kicks for the Las Vegas Raiders final 12 months, he doesn’t have a historical past as a returner., neither is he generally known as an open-field runner. His manufacturing was solely mediocre It seems a lateral transfer, at greatest.
