The Rams are still sorting out who can steady a shaky return game, and Brennan Presley has suddenly become part of that conversation.
Los Angeles’ only trade-deadline move was to bring back Xavier Smith from the 49ers’ practice squad, but that hardly settles anything. Smith’s old job as a return specialist is up for grabs, and ball security issues were part of why he was let go in the first place. Presley, a recent addition to the 53-man roster, gives the Rams another name to weigh as they try to find the right mix.
Presley arrives with a different kind of resume. He hasn’t made his NFL mark yet, but he spent five years at Oklahoma State working both as a receiver and as a return man. That versatility matters for a Rams team that needs options, especially with the return game still looking for a dependable answer.
The Rams already experimented last week by sending Kyren Williams out on punt returns. He fair-caught two and avoided the kind of full-speed hit that can put the offense in a bad spot. That’s the key for Los Angeles: Williams is too important to be exposed on special teams unless there’s no other choice.
After Smith was released, the Rams gave veteran Alex Bachman a shot, but the results weren’t much better. Bachman averaged 5.2 yards per punt return, below Smith’s 9.9, and is now back on the practice squad.
Sean McVay said Friday that Smith, Presley and running back Ronnie Rivers are all possibilities in the return game. Rivers would seem to be in the mix for kickoffs, since he has not returned a punt in the NFL.
There’s also another opening to address. With Jordan Whittington now on injured reserve, the Rams need help at receiver as well.
Presley could fit there, too. In the preseason, he returned two kickoffs for 55 yards.
At Oklahoma State, he averaged 23.4 yards on 61 kickoff returns, with one taken back for a touchdown as a sophomore, a season that pushed his average above 32 yards per return.
His punt-return numbers are less eye-catching. Presley’s best year came the next season, when he averaged 7.9 yards per return, and his career average sits at 4.7.
Still, the speed is there. Presley ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, and the Rams are clearly hoping that burst translates into more production.
That’s part of what makes him interesting: Presley may not just be a return answer, but a receiver the Rams can actually use. With Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Whittington all on injured reserve, the room is thin.
Among the receivers who have produced anything meaningful, Konata Mumpfield and Tutu Atwell have combined for 18 catches and 261 yards on 36 targets. Even with CJ Daniels expected to see more snaps, Los Angeles needs every bit of help it can find.
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