LA Rams: 7 players who could be surprise cuts in 2021

A running back who simply scores touchdowns

Rookie running back Xavier Jones found his way to the LA Rams 53-man roster in the most unusual way. He was not invited to the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, he didn’t hear his name called in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he really didn’t have much of a chance to make the LA Rams 53-man roster because the team was already set with Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson, and Cam Akers handling the ball-carrying duties. Yet, there he was, the top scorer in all of college football in 2019, and he was gnawing at the bit to play.

I would have liked to see Xavier Jones get some carries last year. At one point, it appeared as though Jones would indeed get his big break, as both Darrell Henderson and Cam Akers were suffering from a high ankle sprain. But Akers was miraculously able to suit up and play, put on some of his best rushing efforts of the season.

Still, it’s hard not to imagine what that might have meant to Xavier Jones if he had gotten carries and emerged as a dangerous offensive weapon. He may have a real nose for the end zone, but nobody can score from the bench. Not even the top scorer from college football.

Xavier Jones is the type of player who doesn’t thrill draft analysts, he is not the top in any measurable attribute. Not size, speed, nor even production. But he is very sharp and knows how to make overeager defensive backs miss, or to create hesitation in defenders who are rocking on their heels.  He can do all of that because his superpower is scoring touchdowns.

Right now, the LA Rams need that in their lineup. Unfortunately, they have added more running backs this year, and with Cam Akers getting a lion’s share of the carries, there simply may not be enough rock to get to Xavier Jones in time for him to re-earn a spot on this team’s roster.