The Rams’ answer to their receiver shortage at the deadline was not the splash fans were waiting for. It was Xavier Smith, back in Los Angeles after a brief stop with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad, and the move says more about the team’s current scramble than any real fix.
Smith’s return comes with Jordan Whittington headed to injured reserve. Whittington had been dealing with a back injury and barely saw the ball over the last two weeks, so the Rams needed a body at receiver. Still, this is hardly the kind of addition that changes the outlook for an offense missing Davante Adams and Puka Nacua.
Smith is back after being waived in early October, and his first stint this season didn’t leave much of a mark. He was targeted only once in three games before getting cut. Whittington wasn’t offering much production either, finishing with 2 catches for 12 yards on the year.
Where Smith may actually matter is on special teams. The Rams have been searching for something - anything - in the return game, and Smith at least brings more upside there than what they’ve gotten from the alternatives.
Alex Bachman is back on the practice squad after averaging 5.2 yards per punt return, while the team even tried Kyren Williams back there last game. Williams fair-caught two punts and didn’t return any, which was probably the safest outcome considering how important he is to the offense.
Smith has ball-security concerns of his own, but he still offers more than the Rams have been getting in that spot. As a receiver, though, the options are thin. Tutu Atwell, Konata Mumpfield, and rookie CJ Daniels are the names left to piece things together.
The tight end group isn’t exactly coming to the rescue, either. Terrance Ferguson needs more time after pulling his hamstring, Colby Parkinson is banged up, and Tyler Higbee has seemingly faded from relevance.
Davis Allen is more run blocker than pass catcher. That could leave Max Klare with a real opening alongside Daniels.
Even with all that, it wouldn’t be shocking if Williams ends up leading the team in receiving until Nacua comes back. He hasn’t been heavily involved as a pass-catcher lately, but he did post 13 receptions for 137 yards between Weeks 3 and 4.
By the time the deadline dust settled, the Rams hadn’t done much to change their outlook. Josh Downs went to the Chiefs for more draft assets than Les Snead was willing to give up.
Brian Thomas Jr. stayed in Jacksonville. And Los Angeles was left with a roster patch, not a solution.
If there’s any faint silver lining, it’s that the quiet deadline may point to a better outlook for Nacua than expected. Whittington, not Nacua, was the first receiver to land on IR.
But Sean McVay sounded pretty sure Nacua would be out at least a month and likely need his own IR stint. Maybe that changes.
Maybe it doesn’t. For now, that’s about all Rams fans have to hang onto.
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Matthew Stafford Brings Rams An Awkward Off Field Distraction
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The lien is listed at $534,453.67 and remains active, with the filing applying to the couples current and future property holdings. It comes at a time when the Staffords have been active in real estate, which only adds to the attention around the matter even as the Rams continue moving through the offseason with Stafford still central to everything they want to do on offense. [Read more 🡒]