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It is no secret Ron Rivera is looking for a punt returner in his fourth season.
Thus far in his three seasons, Rivera has used seven punt returners, and it is no secret has liked what he has seen thus far in undrafted rookie free agent from UCLA Kazmeir Allen.
Some caution would be to be reminded that Allen only returned kickoffs in his final two seasons at UCLA. Will he show enough in preseason returning punts that Rivera and the staff will want to go with Allen as the punt returner? Will he unseat Antonio Gibson, being the kick returner as well?
Kazmeir Allen. 🔥pic.twitter.com/bkMFxUgqSi
— Riggo's Rag (@RiggosRag) June 10, 2023
Rivera, in his first season, primarily used Steven Sims, returning 24 punts for an average of 6.7 yards per return with a long of 25 yards. Isaiah Wright, Greg Stroman and Danny Johnson also saw very limited action on punt returns, none averaging 4 yards a return.
In his second season as head coach, Rivera enjoyed the consistency of DeAndre Carter. Carter, though only having a longest punt return of 16 yards in 2021, still managed to average 8.4 on his returns.
However, Washington was unable to re-sign Carter, the native Californian. Born in San Jose and having played his college ball at Sacramento State, Carter chose to return to southern California, signing with the Chargers for 2022.
Last season (2022), Rivera’s third in Washington, saw Dax Milne return 40 punts averaging 7.8 yards a punt, and Alec Erickson (4 for 25 yards). Commanders fans have frankly been unfair to Milne, unfairly judging him as a failure. However, the facts reveal though Milne never broke a long return (19 yards longest), he did finish 12th of those making enough punt returns to qualify.
But yes, Rivera and staff are hoping Allen will bring the bigger returns the team has been lacking in his previous three seasons.