The Los Angeles Rams offense has some of the best playmakers in the NFL on it. Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is surrounded by guys who can go out and make a play, making this one of the most explosive units in the league.
One of those players is running back Kyren Williams. The Notre Dame product had a breakout 2023 season, his second as a pro.
He was named to the Pro Bowl team after rushing for 1,144 yards with 12 touchdowns and catching 32 passes for 206 yards and three more scores. The most impressive part is he accomplished that in only 12 games, as he missed four because of injury and the regular season finale after a playoff spot had been clinched.
Williams could be in for a monster season yet again, especially if he can stay healthy. Looking to get the ball into his hands in as many ways as possible, the Los Angeles Rams are putting even more on his plate in 2024.
According to head coach Sean McVay, the star running back will be participating on special teams as the punt return man.
“It’s another opportunity for him to get touches and impact the game,” McVay said. “And you feel comfortable with that because of the confidence in Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers being able to spell him if need be.”
Returning punts is not an easy job, so finding a player that you trust back there is important. Williams is a player that McVay has full confidence in, but exposing him to more wear and tear does not seem like the best idea.
This is a decision that will make Rams fans queasy. Williams being exposed to even more high-speed hits as a punt returner would seem to be counteractive to trying to keep him as fresh as possible throughout the season.
This offseason was one of rehab for the Pro Bowl running back, who also broke his hand during the team’s playoff game against the Detroit Lions. In addition to fixing that by surgery, a clean up from a previous foot surgery was completed.
Already struggling to stay healthy, being a punt returner isn’t going to help in that area. It is a good thing that the Los Angeles Rams have another running back they like, as Williams is only becoming more of an injury risk.
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