If the Rams were counting on Raymond Calais to be their kick returner, they’ll have to turn to Plan B. Calais suffered a foot injury on Saturday night against the Raiders that Sean McVay quickly knew was serious, saying after the game that he would likely need surgery.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Calais suffered a midfoot fracture and is having surgery Monday, sidelining him for 4-6 months. That’s a huge blow for both the Rams and Calais because he was impressing his coaches in practice and the preseason, projecting to carve out a role on offense and on special teams.
#Rams RB Raymond Calais will have surgery Monday for a midfoot fracture and is facing a four- to six-month recovery, per source. Terrible break for Calais, who was going to make the team and was emerging as a weapon on offense and in the return game.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 22, 2021
With Calais down, even more falls on the shoulders of Tutu Atwell in the return game. He’s the favorite to return punts, it would seem, as he was competing with Calais for reps in that phase. Now, Otis Anderson Jr. could get more reps and if he does enough on special teams, it could be his way of landing on the 53-man roster.
Calais has been with the Rams since he was signed off the Buccaneers’ practice squad last September, just before Week 1.