The KC Chiefs win in TNF gives LA Rams template for Tutu Atwell

Riddle me this, Batman? LA Rams veteran WR Tutu Atwell is listed as 5-foot-9, weighs 165 pounds, and has a 40-yard dash speed of 4.39 seconds. Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy is listed as 5-foot-11, weighs 165 pounds, and has a 40-yard dash speed of 4.21 seconds. The Rams offense is still working out the bugs of optimizing Atwell's speed in their offensive system.

The Kansas City Chiefs, in one Thursday Night Football debut of their rookie wide receiver, seem to have already mastered how to make the most of their speedy receiver.

To be fair, the Chiefs selected WR Xavier Worthy with the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, a selection that all but ensured he would start for the Chiefs in Week 1. When the Rams selected Tutu Atwell with the 57th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the team had a pretty stack receiver room that included WR Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, DeSean Jackson, Van Jefferson, and would eventually include Odell Beckham Jr.

So comparing the two situations is not like we are comparing apples to apples here.

But it is already crystal clear that that Chiefs have integrated rookie WR Xavier Worthy into the core of their offense.

We have yet to get that same impression from the Rams use of Tutu Atwell.

It's not for a lack of trying. The Rams have Tutu Atwell on the active roster while his understudy WR Xavier Smith waits in the wings on the practice squad. While not at Worthy-speed, Rams WR Xavier Smith runs a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. Smith stands 5-foot-9 while tipping the scales at 176 pounds.

If you recall, Xavier Smith caught almost every pass thrown his way in training camp and in the preseason.

In his debut for the Chiefs, rookie WR Xavier Smith caught two of three passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, including a 35-yard touchdown strike (see above). He also ran once for 21 yards and a touchdown. In a 27-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Worthy put up 12 points to help lead his team to victory.

Did the Rams offense get any ideas on how to used their own swift receivers from that game? Only time will tell.

Thanks for reading.