Why are Rams letting starting RB Kyren Williams return punts in 2024?

On Tuesday, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed third-year running back Kyren Williams will also serve as the team's punt returner, which was a bit surprising.

"It's another opportunity for him to get touches and impact the game," McVay said of Williams returning punts. "And you feel comfortable with that because of the confidence in [rookie RB] Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers being able to spell him if need be."

Letting Williams return punts seems like an odd choice. He has yet to prove he's an effective returner. In two seasons with the Rams, the Notre Dame product only has three returns for 21 yards and no TDs.
It's also unclear why McVay would want to take some carries away from Williams. In 12 games last season, he ranked third in the league in rushing yards (1,144) and tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns (12), earning a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl nod.

However, the Rams ground attack sputtered when Williams wasn't in the lineup. According to Sarah Barshop of ESPN, L.A. averaged 94.25 rushing yards and scored two rushing TDs when Williams missed four straight games with a sprained ankle in the middle of the season.

Rivers hasn't proven he's a dependable RB2 in two seasons with the club, tallying 150 rushing yards and zero rushing touchdowns on 41 carries. Corum — the 83rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft — should provide more punch.

In his final season at Michigan, Corum led the FBS in rushing TDs (27 in 15 games) , helping the Wolverines win their first national title since 1997.

"I'm excited for it because the type of running back that [Corum] is, he's going to be able to, if I'm not there, he's going to be able to do it," Williams said at the beginning of training camp, via Barshop. "And so I'm excited for what he has in store, and I'm excited that we're both teammates because we're both going to be able to complement each other."

If McVay's plan works, a Corum-Williams duo could become one of the top backfield tandems in the league.