Getty The Los Angeles Rams.
Sean McVay made an admission to reporters during his December 5 Zoom conference: He should’ve given one $6 million wide receiver more chances with the Los Angeles Rams.
“All this guy has done is answer the bell when he’s had his chances,” McVay said about Tutu Atwell, a second-year receiver out of Louisville.
With No. 1 receiver Cooper Kupp on the shelf and Allen Robinson out for the rest of the year, Atwell has made the most of his opportunities to play and has provided a needed deep element for the Rams.
In the past three games, Atwell has made some big plays, including a 62-yard touchdown reception on November 20 and receptions of 30 and 18 yards in the Rams’ 27-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on December 4. In that game, gained 23 yards on four rushing attempts.
McVay has found ways to take advantage of Atwell’s speed.
“I think last year he had the injury and I think just sometimes opportunities are presented and [he] probably should have had more opportunities this season,” McVay said. “Last year was more of a result of the injury and the depth that we ended up having at that position with guys that we already knew were ready to roll. This year, he probably should have gotten more opportunities earlier on in the season, and that’s something that I won’t run away from because all this guy has done is answer the bell when he has had his chances.”
What Atwell Has Accomplished
In his first five games in the Rams’ lineup, Atwell had only four targets and one catch, though it was a big one: a 54-yarder against the Dallas Cowboys on October 9.
Since then? Atwell, described by Zierlein as “rail thin” and equipped with “legitimate deep ball danger to the field,” has shown what he’s capable of.
Before quarterback Matthew Stafford went down with a spinal cord contusion, he connected with Atwell on a 62-yard bomb against the New Orleans Saints.
Matthew Stafford. Tutu Atwell. 62 yards! #RamsHouse
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He followed that performance with two catches on two targets for 23 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. Then, on December 4, he hauled in two passes, including an acrobatic one-handed snag.
.@tutuatwell with the one-handed snag! 👋
📺 @NFLonFOX | 🔄 #ProBowlVote
As recently as mid-November, pundits were wondering what the Rams should do with Atwell, with one asking whether LA should give up him and another calling for giving him a greater role.
“The Tutu Atwell situation might be the most polarizing,” wrote SB Nation’s Steven Ridings on November 22. “When he has been on the field, he has performed very well. … If he is a consistent speed and downfield threat, he needs to be factored into the offense more. … They need to know if [he] can be the second rounder they intended.”
Tutu Atwell Has Rookie Year Obstacles
Arguably, the most interesting draft pick of the McVay era came in 2021, when he took Atwell at No. 57 overall in the second round. At just 5-foot-9 and 165-pound, Atwell was projected to fall in the fourth round by NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein of nfl.com. Rams fans had hoped the team would draft highly touted center Creed Humphrey out of Oklahoma in the second round but instead went with Atwell and signed him to a four-year, $5,908,699 deal. Humphrey ended up falling to No. 63 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Atwell’s rookie season was marred with obstacles — from being placed on the reserve/COVID list during 2021 training camp to not catching a pass to seeing his season end with a shoulder injury. His second season got off to another slow start ,as he was buried on the offensive depth chart and in McVay’s game plans.
But in Weeks 12 and 13, per Pro Football Reference, Atwell has combined for 58 total offensive snaps. And, he holds a distinction on the Rams: All six of his catches were good enough for first downs, making him the lone Rams wideout to accomplish the feat.
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