The best stretch of Tutu Atwell’s career came in Weeks 1 to 4 of last season, a period where he was targeted 35 times, caught 22 passes and racked up 270 yards with a touchdown. It’s no coincidence that his production came while Cooper Kupp was out, and after the All-Pro receiver returned, Atwell went back to being a mostly unutilized backup.
This season, Atwell could get another opportunity to play meaningful snaps after the Rams unfortunately lost Puka Nacua to a knee injury. Nacua will miss at least the next four games and potentially more, opening the door for guys like Tyler Johnson, Jordan Whittington and Atwell to step up.
On the “Coach McVay Show” this week, Sean McVay was asked if Johnson and Whittington are up to the task, and he mentioned Atwell as a player who could see an uptick in playing time, too.
“I think so, and I think Tutu’s ready to get some more opportunities,” McVay said. “Tutu’s a guy that’s delivered for us. There’s a lot of different reasons when you put together a certain game plan that can sometimes help guys get in the flow and then sometimes, just the way the game unfolds, it doesn’t allow it to be illustrated that way. The answer is yes on both of the guys you asked about, and then I also think Tutu’s going to be a factor.”
We’ve heard this before from McVay when talking about Atwell and it’s never really amounted to much. Yes, Atwell looked like a capable receiver early last season but even when the Rams were searching for a No. 3 receiver to go with Nacua and Kupp, Atwell couldn’t carve out a role.
After Nacua went down in Week 1, it was Johnson who played the majority of the snaps alongside Kupp and Demarcus Robinson. Atwell played just six snaps and Whittington played two, and neither was targeted as a receiver in the loss.
Now that McVay knows Nacua will be out, he can better game plan for his receivers’ involvement. Whether that translates to production from Atwell remains to be seen, but fans shouldn’t hold their breath.