5 Rams Whose Time in L.A. Will End After Divisional Round Loss to Eagles
By Cem Yolbulan
The Los Angeles Rams' season is officially over. Sean McVay & Co. exceeded expectations once again and led the team to its second straight postseason appearance. They may not have won the ultimate prize but Rams fans will certainly be happy with how the season has gone.
For some Rams players, however, this signaled the end of their time in Los Angeles. Let's take a look.
1. Tutu Atwell, WR
In his fourth season in Los Angeles, Atwell finally showed flashes of what made him a star at Louisville and got him selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He used the early-season injuries to Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp to his advantage, starting in five games and keeping the Rams offense afloat.
Atwell made the most of these starts. In a four-game stretch between Week 3 and 7, where he started every game, Atwell had 20 catches for 284 yards. The Rams went 2-2 in that span behind a couple of big performances from the 25-year-old. He had three games over 70.0 PFF grade during that stretch.
Then, the Rams went on their bye week and Nacua and Kupp returned in Week 8. Atwell was forgotten once again and didn't see more than three targets in a game until the season finale. Now, he is hitting free agency and he doesn't seem to be in the long-term plans of the organization.
Atwell has been the WR4/5 behind Kupp, Nacua, and Demarcus Robinson in the second half of the season. He saw a total of 20 offensive snaps in Weeks 16 and 17, recording one catch. He still finished the season with a career-best 71.9 offensive grade on PFF despite not scoring a touchdown all year.
Considering what he has shown earlier in the season, Atwell presumably wouldn't be too interested in a return, either. He can likely find a better opportunity with a larger role and more money.