Tag: Tutu Atwell

Tutu to Tez: Could Rams replace Atwell with another undersized WR in 2025 draft?

After Tutu Atwell didn’t pan out, would the Rams consider taking a shot on another undersized WR in Oregon’s Tez Johnson?

The Los Angeles Rams blindsided a lot of people in the 2021 draft when they selected Tutu Atwell at No. 57 overall in the second round. Needing offensive line help, the Rams passed on Creed Humphrey and instead took the undersized receiver out of Louisville in what felt like a luxury pick by Les Snead and Sean McVay.

Though Atwell got progressively better each year, things just didn’t work out for him in Los Angeles and now that he’s set to be a free agent in March, it’s reasonable to think he’s played his last down with the Rams.

Assuming Atwell leaves, might the Rams consider replacing him with a similarly undersized wideout in the 2025 draft?

Oregon’s Tez Johnson weighed in at 5-foot-9 and 156 pounds at the Senior Bowl this week, the exact same height and only 1 pound heavier than Atwell was at the 2021 NFL combine. There’s no question he’s small, but that didn’t scare McVay away from Atwell four years ago and it may not deter him from taking a shot on Johnson this spring.

While speed was Atwell’s biggest asset, Johnson is a terrific route runner who creates separation with ease at the top of his routes. That’s been on full display in Mobile where he’s been borderline unguardable for opposing Senior Bowl cornerbacks.

Wide receivers certainly have the advantage in these one-on-one drills but the amount of separation Johnson creates – and the ease in which he does so – is impressive.

It’s why he’s such a promising prospect despite legitimate concerns about his size, especially after Atwell failed to amount to much with the Rams in the last four years.

Johnson, who’s viewed as a Day 2 prospect right now, could see his stock continue to rise if he keeps shining during the pre-draft process. He should run well in the 40-yard dash and his agility numbers are likely to be among the best at his position.

When talking about his game and who he compares to, he named three outstanding receivers who are currently in the NFL – including a Rams star. He mentioned Tank Dell, Cooper Kupp and Tyler Lockett as wideouts he models his game after, even saying that Kupp helped him this offseason.

“Cooper Kupp, he helped me this offseason as far as decision-making in option routes and stuff like that, and Tank Dell because of the route-running,” he said.

It’d be hard to sell the fanbase on another 5-9, 155-pound receiver early in the draft, but Johnson is a promising prospect who appears better than Atwell when it comes to releases at the line of scrimmage and route running.

The Rams need wide receiver help with Atwell and Demarcus Robinson being free agents, as well as Kupp’s future being uncertain, so Johnson could be a logical target for Los Angeles on Day 2. Taking a player that small comes with risk but don’t put it past McVay to take the dynamic receiver out of Oregon.

Full list of Rams’ pending free agents in 2025

These 19 players will hit the free-agent market for the Rams this offseason

With the Los Angeles Rams’ season coming to an end in the divisional round of the playoffs, their attention will soon turn to offseason work. From free agency to the draft, the Rams will begin putting together their plan for the coming months.

They’ve had some marquee players hit the free-agent market in recent years, which has helped them collect compensatory picks, and there are several starters whose contracts will expire this March, too.

Over The Cap has a full list of the Rams’ pending free agents, which features at least five players who were significant contributors at one point or another this season. The list is headlined by left tackle Alaric Jackson, with Demarcus Robinson, Christian Rozeboom and Ahkello Witherspoon all set to become free agents, too.

  • LT Joe Noteboom
  • LT Alaric Jackson
  • WR Demarcus Robinson
  • QB Jimmy Garoppolo
  • OLB Michael Hoecht
  • WR Tutu Atwell
  • LB Christian Rozeboom
  • S John Johnson III
  • TE Hunter Long
  • CB Ahkello Witherspoon
  • OG Conor McDermott
  • DL Larrell Murchison
  • WR Tyler Johnson
  • LB Troy Reeder
  • DT Neville Gallimore
  • NT Bobby Brown III
  • RB Ronnie Rivers (RFA)
  • LB Jake Hummel (RFA)
  • C Dylan McMahon (ERFA)

The Rams won’t be able to re-sign all of these players and many of them will leave to join other teams, but there’s no question the front office will at least try to keep some of the primary free agents.

Jackson was a stud at left tackle, Robinson was the No. 3 receiver all year, Hoecht was a valuable third edge rusher, Witherspoon became a valuable piece of the secondary toward the end of the year and Gallimore flashed late in the season.

Rams Week 14 snap counts: Corum’s playing time limited, Atwell’s role grows

Blake Corum had eight carries but he only played 13 snaps, seeing limited playing time after a breakout game against the Saints

Blake Corum enjoyed a breakout performance in Week 13 where he carried it eight times for 42 yards and played a season-high 32% of the offensive snaps. It seemed like a sign of things to come, and while he did carry it eight times against the Bills on Sunday, his playing time was once again limited.

Granted, the Rams were humming on offense so it’s understandable that Sean McVay used what was working, but it might be in the team’s best interest to take some of the wear and tear off of Kyren Williams with the playoffs approaching.

Here’s a look at the full snap counts on offense and defense from the Rams’ wild 44-42 win over Buffalo on Sunday afternoon.

Offense

Williams played 83% of the snaps on Sunday, which only left 17% for Corum. It’s not overly concerning for the rookie running back, especially considering Williams was excellent in pass protection when called upon and Corum still got eight carries, but it was a drop from his season-high of 32% last week.

At wide receiver, it was much of the same at the top with Cooper Kupp (83%) and Puka Nacua (77%) leading the position group in snap share. Demarcus Robinson played 61% despite exiting with a shoulder injury. That opened the door for Tutu Atwell, whose role already grew in Week 13 when he played 39% of the snaps. He played 45% on Sunday and caught three passes for 45 yards. Tyler Johnson only played 16 snaps and Jordan Whittington played 10 snaps but neither was targeted.

At tight end, Colby Parkinson has reestablished himself as the TE1 with a 48% snap share. Davis Allen was second with a share of 29% and Hunter Long played 23%. Parkinson was the only Rams tight end to catch a pass in the game, an 11-yard dump-off in the fourth quarter.

Defense

While the Rams typically have four players who play 100% of the defensive snaps, Quentin Lake was the only one on Sunday. Cobie Durant suffered a lung contusion that limited his snaps, while Darious Williams missed two snaps and Kamren Curl missed four.

Kamren Kinchens played 78% of the snaps as the fifth defensive back, which allows Lake to play in the slot. Jaylen McCollough played 40% of the snaps, mostly in dime sets, with Ahkello Witherspoon filling in for six plays in the secondary.

At inside linebacker, Christian Rozeboom led the way with an 80% snap share, followed by Omar Speights, who played 60%. Jake Hummel got on the field for two defensive snaps.

Jared Verse had a slightly lighter workload with a 75% snap share after previously playing at least 80% in most games. That could be due to the ankle injury he suffered in practice. Byron Young played 87% of the snaps and Michael Hoecht played 60%, so it was mostly par for the course in that position group.

Along the defensive line, Kobie Turner played 75% of the snaps, seven snaps more than Braden Fiske (63%). The Rams rotated their other linemen pretty often, with Bobby Brown III (25%), Neville Gallimore (25%), Desjuan Johnson (22%) and Tyler Davis (18%) all playing at least 11 snaps.

Stats show Tutu Atwell is among NFL’s best at getting open, but his targets have disappeared

Tutu Atwell is getting open at a high rate, but with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp back, his role has once again shrunk

This season must feel eerily similar to last year for Tutu Atwell.

In 2023, he filled in admirably when Cooper Kupp was injured for the first four games of the season. During that span, he caught 22 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown, also rushing for 27 yards on two carries.

This season, in the four starts he made while Kupp (and Puka Nacua) was sidelined again, he caught 20 passes for 284 yards. Since Kupp and Nacua came back, however, Atwell has played just 35 total snaps and caught two passes for 35 yards on five targets in the last two games.

For whatever reason, Atwell can’t seem to break through as more than a backup and role player, but the numbers show he’s getting open.

According to Pro Football Focus, Atwell led the NFL in Week 9 in separation percentage, which “measures how often a receiver beats the coverage to get open rather than benefiting from a defense more focused on limiting yards after the catch or stopping them short of the first down.”

He got open on all eight of his opportunities, tied with Michael Pittman Jr. for the highest rate of Week 9.

Season-long, Atwell’s numbers are still very good. He ranks 23rd among all NFL players with a separation rate of 63.93%, meaning he’s getting open for Matthew Stafford almost two-thirds of the time. He’s just not getting the ball thrown his way anymore with Kupp and Nacua healthy.

It might be time for Sean McVay to reconsider Atwell’s role and give him more opportunities. The only Rams receiver creating separation at a higher rate is Demarcus Robinson, who’s 18th at 65.42%. By comparison, Kupp is much further down at 47.06%.

Atwell has the speed and agility to get open down the field and be more than just a deep threat.

The Rams’ wide receiver rotation is pretty deep now that everyone is healthy, but there are ways to get Atwell involved, and it could have a positive impact on the offense.

Tutu Atwell could be the answer if Puka Nacua isn’t fully healthy

A late-week injury to Puka Nacua could open the door to a much-deserved oppertunity for Tutu Atwell.

The last time the Rams played in Seattle, it was Puka Nacua’s coming-out party. The rookie, who was making his NFL debut, recorded 10 catches for 119 yards in a performance that fans still talk about today. What was forgotten in the game was that Tutu Atwell, who started in place of an injured Cooper Kupp, recorded six receptions for 119 yards.

Atwell, when given the opportunity, has proved himself time and time again. He’s still the current Rams leader in catches and receiving yards this season, and stepped up when Kupp and Nacua were injured.

Against the Vikings, Atwell saw limited snaps despite his fast start to the year. if Nacua isn’t 100% entering Sunday after injuring his knee on Thursday, Atwell is the man for the job.

Atwell has shown excellent footwork, changing directions on defenders with quickness. He’s been one of Matthew Stafford’s favorite targets, he’s a nightmare when sent into motion and he can play any receiver position.

He’s shown strong hands, acceleration after the catch, and an ability to make tacklers miss. He’s a man deserving of more targets and when they’ve come his way, he’s hauled them in. Atwell has caught 67 percent of his targets this season and was on pace to record over 70 catches and 1,000 yards before his benching.

Atwell is the solution to the Rams’ wide receiver injury woes and he should see significant time versus Seattle.

With Cooper Kupp likely staying put, could the Rams trade a different WR?

With Cooper Kupp expected to stay in LA, could the Rams trade a different receiver before next week’s deadline?

Cooper Kupp will probably be the subject of trade rumors leading up to the Nov. 5 deadline but Sean McVay essentially said last week that the Rams have no plans to move their star receiver.

“That’s not a move that we want to make,” McVay said. “… There was (a) conversation in regard to people reaching out about him but to say that we were proactively seeking that out, that was something that I had a hard time with.”

“Like I said, he’s a Ram and we expect it to stay that way.”

While he did leave some room for speculation by saying “we expect it to stay that way” instead of “we’re not trading him,” signs point toward Kupp remaining with the Rams. That doesn’t mean McVay and Les Snead won’t try to move another receiver, though.

Now flush with talent at the position, the Rams could look to trade someone besides Kupp. Last week alone, Kupp, Puka Nacua, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson and Tutu Atwell all caught a pass. That was with Jordan Whittington sidelined by a shoulder injury, too.

Realistically, the Rams have six receivers they can count on to be starters, and all six of them have started at least one game this season.

Based on the Week 8 snap counts, it looks like Atwell could be the odd man out in the receiver rotation. He played just nine snaps compared to the next-lowest receiver, Johnson, who played 27 snaps.

Between Atwell, Robinson and Johnson, Tutu might have the most trade value of them all. He’s a former second-round pick who’s been a playmaker when called upon, and he’s also in the last year of his contract so he could fit a team looking for a half-year rental with the possibility of extending him after the season.

If the Rams do attempt to move Atwell, they shouldn’t expect anything more than a fifth- or sixth-rounder. Teams know Los Angeles won’t have much leverage after he took a backseat in the receiver room last week, so the Rams aren’t in a position of power when it comes to negotiations.

This isn’t to say the Rams should move Atwell. As we’ve seen in the last two years, injuries happen. Atwell was needed at the start of last season and then again at the beginning of this year, so having him as a depth player is probably more valuable than a late-Day 3 pick in a future draft.

Tutu Atwell looks like odd man out in Rams’ WR rotation

Tutu Atwell went from leading the team in receiving to playing just nine snaps against the Vikings on Thursday night

Despite being one of the players who stepped up while Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua were injured, Tutu Atwell was rewarded with nine total snaps on Thursday night.

Even with Jordan Whittington injured, Atwell was leaped over by Tyler Johnson on the depth chart. While he remains the Rams’ current leader in both receptions and receiving yards, the numbers show that the team does not value Atwell within the WR rotation and his future in LA looks like it is coming to a close.

It’s not clear why Atwell has been made a pariah, but they should explore a trade for his sake and the Rams’. Atwell is a player who was finally coming into his own, operating as the team’s WR1 in multiple contests, and while Demarcus Robinson – who scored two touchdowns against Minnesota – may be the favored receiver to fill the WR3 role, it was Atwell who got the job done when called upon.

If Atwell can be effective as the WR1, he can be dangerous as a WR3. However, the Rams are obviously not interested in his services unless someone is injured. So for Atwell, who is in a contract year, a new home may spell greener pastures for a player with his talents.

And for those who say this is an exaggeration, he had nine total snaps on Thursday. Atwell wasn’t listed on the injury report leading into Thursday night so his limited playing time was a coaching decision.

Rams snap counts: McVay shakes things up with Kupp and Nacua back

Sean McVay made major changes on offense with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back, causing Tutu Atwell’s role to almost disappear

The Los Angeles Rams had been getting by without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua at wide receiver for four straight games but their returns on Thursday night made a world of difference for Matthew Stafford and the entire offense.

Their returns also had a huge impact on the wide receiver rotation and the personnel groupings that Sean McVay utilized. Though Kupp and Nacua didn’t play close to their normal snap share, they were still the two leading receivers in yardage and were the primary reasons Los Angeles pulled off the upset.

Of course, with the team’s top two receivers back, someone had to take a backseat. That player was clearly Tutu Atwell, who played just nine snaps in the Rams’ win.

Take a look at the full snap counts on offense and defense below, which shows the big changes Sean McVay made with his two best receivers back.

Offense

Demarcus Robinson may have only been targeted two times, but he played the most snaps of any receiver with 61. Kupp played 42 snaps and Nacua played 41, rotating in and out of the lineup frequently. For two players who missed four and five games, they were still working back into game shape, particularly in Nacua’s case after logging only two limited practices since Week 1.

Tyler Johnson was the fourth receiver with 27 snaps played, while Atwell’s role just about evaporated. He played only 12% of the snaps after playing at least 74% in each of the previous four games. Xavier Smith played four snaps but didn’t touch the ball. With 10 days until their next game, Kupp and Nacua should be closer to full strength in Week 9, which could further limit the snaps available for other wide receivers.

The tight end rotation was much closer than it had been all season. All three guys contributed with meaningful snaps for the first time this year. Colby Parkinson remains the top option with a 64% snap share, but that matched his season-low (Week 7). Hunter Long played 42% of the snaps and Davis Allen played 39%, which were the second-most and most for those two tight ends this season, respectively. The Rams used a lot of 12 personnel and deployed two tight ends together more than they have in most games this season, which provided a spark in the run game.

At running back Kyren Williams played his usual number of snaps, with Blake Corum playing the other 11% – also his typical usage rate. Corum is firmly entrenched in the RB2 role but he’s not a real threat to Williams’ workload right now.

Defense

Quentin Lake and Darious Williams played every snap on defense for the second straight week. Lake wore the green dot as the defensive signal caller, taking over that role with Troy Reeder landing on IR. Kam Curl likely would’ve played the entire game again if not for a knee injury that knocked him out for 13 snaps.

The biggest change in the secondary came at the No. 2 cornerback spot where Cobie Durant replaced Ahkello Witherspoon. Durant played all but one snap, while Witherspoon was dropped to fourth on the depth chart; he played only nine snaps compared to Josh Wallace’s 20.

Reeder missed this game and will sit out at least the next three, too, as he recovers from a hamstring injury, which led to a bigger role for Christian Rozeboom. He played 94% of the snaps, with rookie Omar Speights playing a career-high 22 snaps on defense as the No. 2 linebacker. Chris Shula mixed Jake Hummel in for 10 plays as the third linebacker.

Byron Young has typically played more snaps than Jared Verse but it was the rookie who played 84% compared to 78% for Young – a minimal difference, but something to watch. Michael Hoecht played 62% of the snaps as the third edge rusher, as well, so his role is still relevant. No other outside linebackers got on the field.

Along the defensive line, Kobie Turner played 82% of the snaps, the only one who played at least 60% of the game. For the fourth straight game, Braden Fiske played fewer than 60% of the snaps, so his role has been somewhat limited. Bobby Brown III played half the game, Tyler Davis played nine snaps and Neville Gallimore was limited to eight plays due to a lingering shoulder injury that caused him to leave the game.

How will Cooper Kupp’s return impact Rams’ WR depth chart?

With Cooper Kupp returning, how will the Rams deploy their Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and their other WRs?

The Los Angeles Rams have merely been trying to tread water in the last four and a half games without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua available. Their receiving corps has consisted of players such as Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Whittington, with Tyler Johnson and Xavier Smith also contributing.

Despite only playing in a game and a half this season, Kupp still ranks third on the team in receptions (18), which shows how heavily utilized he was in Weeks 1 and 2 before injuring his ankle. With Kupp on the verge of returning this Thursday, it creates some questions about how the Rams’ receiving corps will look now that he’s back.

Even for a team that uses 11 personnel more than 90% of the time, fitting all six wideouts into the equation will be a challenge. So who stands to lose playing time when Kupp returns?

If we look at the snap counts from this season, it could help paint a clearer picture.

  • Demarcus Robinson: 352 snaps
  • Tutu Atwell: 220 snaps
  • Tyler Johnson: 196 snaps
  • Jordan Whittington: 190 snaps

Demarcus Robinson

Even though he’s only caught 13 passes this season, the fewest of the bunch, Robinson continues to play the majority of the snaps. He’s played at least 85% in every game this season, including 91% in the Rams’ most recent game against the Raiders. After starting the year as the No. 3 receiver, we can assume he’ll remain one of the starters with Kupp back.

Tyler Johnson

Johnson had been relegated to a role as the No. 4 receiver prior to Week 5 when Whittington was limited to just nine snaps due to a lack of practice time as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Johnson played just 10 and 11 snaps in Weeks 4 and 5 before playing 50 snaps on Sunday.

Tutu Atwell

Atwell’s role has been steady since Week 3, playing 74%, 90%, 81% and 78% of the snaps in the last four games. His skill set is completely different than Kupp’s, so he provides some variety at wide receiver with his speed and downfield ability.

Jordan Whittington

And then there’s the wild card Whittington, who caught a total of 13 passes for 151 yards in Weeks 4 and 5 before playing just nine snaps on Sunday. He played 97% of the snaps in Week 4 and 92% in Week 5, looking like he had fully taken over the Puka Nacua role. After being listed as a non-participant on Monday’s injury report, and with Sean McVay saying he hopes he has “a little bit more of a workload” this week, it doesn’t sound like Whittington is fully healthy.

Projection

As long as Kupp is healthy, which he appears to be after being a full participant on Monday’s estimated report, he’s going to play the majority of the snaps. We can probably expect Atwell to play about 75% of the snaps as one of the outside receivers, with Robinson getting a healthy number of snaps as the X-receiver on the boundary.

That leaves the rest of the snaps to Johnson and Whittington. Johnson led the team with 57 yards in Sunday’s win, but he’s not exactly a dynamic playmaker. And with Whittington banged up, he may not be ready for a full workload just yet.

Sean McVay pleased with Tutu Atwell’s start to 2024 season

Tutu Atwell has been incredible for the Rams in 2024. Here’s what Sean McVay had to say about the receiver’s fast start.

When Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua fell victim to injury, the question of who would step up in their absence became the top priority for the Rams. While Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson were seen as early contenders, it’s Tutu Atwell who’s taken the reins and grabbed his opportunity.

Once seen as a player who was buried on the depth chart, Atwell has established himself as a critical member of the offense, leading the team in receiving yards in back-to-back weeks.

When questioned about what was different about Atwell this year compared to last season, Sean McVay said “he’s improved.”

“I think he’s taken advantage of his opportunities,” McVay said Wednesday. “He’s done a good job of being able to make the most of the chances that he’s had when he is being targeted, whether that be on some of the early downs or even third downs but I’ve been pleased with two the last couple weeks.”

Atwell has averaged over 20 yards per catch over the last two weeks. He’s hauled in 11 catches out of 15 targets on the year.

Atwell is in the last year of his rookie contract, so this is an important season for the fourth-year receiver.