(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
At the start of the season, the Los Angeles Rams surprisingly experimented with Kyren Williams as their punt returner. Sean McVay defended the decision as a way to get the ball in his hands more often, but the results didn’t warrant the risk of injury.
In the first two games, Williams fair caught one punt, returned one for 12 yards and had a return for no gain on another. On Sunday, the Rams made a switch on special teams and the return was immediately positive.
They called up Xavier Smith, a second-year receiver out of Florida A&M who continuously shined in the preseason the last two years. He replaced Williams on punt returns and after calling a fair catch on his first fielded first punt, he made a game-changing play on his second attempt.
With 55 seconds left, he fielded the punt at the Rams’ 12-yard line, made one man miss and broke upfield for a 38-yard return. It was the Rams’ longest punt return since Brandon Powell’s 61-yarder in 2021, showing exactly the impact he can have with the ball in his hands.
That set up Joshua Karty’s game-winning field goal, potentially saving the Rams’ season.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1837996644559687847
If Sean McVay takes one thing away from Sunday’s win, it’s that Smith should remain the team’s punt returner moving forward. The Rams have struggled to find an impactful player in the return game for years but Smith could solve that problem. He’s fast and has excellent vision, and his return skills can help L.A. avoid any potential injuries to starters on special teams.
“What a cool deal for Xavier Smith,” McVay said after the game. “Great job aggressively fielding that thing, got some blocks, got to the sideline , got us in good field position right off the jump and then Ronnie Rivers converted on the fake punt. I thought that was a real difference for us.”
The Rams shouldn’t have any trouble using Smith as their punt returner next week or the week after. But coming back from their Week 6 bye, they’ll have a decision to make. Smith is on the practice squad and teams can only elevate a single player three times in a season. Therefore, if Smith is elevated in the next two weeks, the Rams will have to give him a spot on the 53-man roster if they want him to keep contributing.
With players potentially returning from IR after the bye, the Rams may have some trouble finding room for Smith on the active roster. No matter what it takes, they should find a way to make it happen.
Special teams was a mess in 2023, including the return game, and Smith has a chance to be the Rams’ next playmaker in that phase of the game.
This post inaccurately stated that Xavier Smith attended FAU, not Florida A&M.