Brennan Presley gives Rams much-needed competition at kick returner

The Los Angeles Rams' only move of the trade deadline was to sign Xavier Smith off the 49ers' practice squad. What role will he have in his second go-round with the team? Will the Rams entrust him with his old job as a return specialist? Ball security concerns motivated his release in the first place. 

Or will they go with their other recent addition to the 53-man roster, young receiver Brennan Presley? While Presley has yet to make his mark in the NFL, he had experience as both a pass-catcher and a return man in his five-year college career at Oklahoma State. 

Whatever the Rams decide - Smith, Presley, someone else, or a combination - more contestants in the competition can only help LA maximize its options.

Rams have another option to consider in Brennan Presley

Last week, the Rams sent running back Kyren Williams to field punts. He fair-caught two and, more importantly, was not subjected to a full-speed collision running it back. The offense needs him healthy. Exposing Williams on special teams should be strictly a last resort. 

After releasing Smith, the Rams tried veteran Alex Bachman in his stead. Bachman didn't fare much better, averaging 5.2 yards per punt return to Smith's 9.9. Now Bachman is back where he probably belongs, on the practice squad. 

Whether Smith or Presley belongs on the active roster remains to be seen. Head coach Sean McVay mentioned both as possible kick returners in Friday's media session, along with running back Ronnie Rivers. Presumably McVay meant Rivers for kickoffs, as the veteran special teamer has yet to return a punt in his NFL career.

Indeed, with receiver Jordan Whittington now on injured reserve, the Rams have a hole to fill there, too. Perhaps that's where Presley plugs in. In the preseason, he returned two kickoffs for 55 yards. At OK State, he averaged 23.4 yards on 61 attempts.

That's modest success at best; he did take one back to the house as a sophomore, boosting his average that season to over 32 yards a pop.

Presley's best season as a punt returner came the following year (7.9 yards per return), but he boasts a career average of only 4.7. With his speed (Presley posted a 4.46-second 40-time), he should be able to muster more than that.

Presley can contribute on offense, too

While the stagnant return game is, of course, a point of interest, the Rams may actually need Presley to contribute as a receiver, too. They simply don't have the bodies with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Whittington all on injured reserve.

From the remaining receivers who have done anything at all (meaning Konata Mumpfield and Tutu Atwell), the Rams have gleaned a combined 18 catches for 261 yards, on 36 targets. Even with CJ Daniels due for a bump in playing time, the offense will need all the help it can get. 

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