V-8 engine roars and other great takeaways from Rams-Cowboys joint practice

(5) - WR Demarcus Robinson stakes his claim to role in Rams offense

There may not be a consensus over the quality of the wide receivers on this team, but no matter how NFL fans or analysts view this group, you can almost bet that they have underestimated veteran wide receiver Demarcus Robinson. After all, he was underestimated and overlooked by his own coaching staff until finally giving him offensive snaps and targets in the second have of the 2023 NFL season.

They won't make that mistake again.

This 6-foot-1 202-pound receiver was not targeted once until Week 9 from the 2023 NFL season. He caught that lone pass for 15 yards against the Green Bay Packers, which was one of the few bright spots in that game. But it did translate into more work after the team's Week 10 BYE. He went on to catch his first nine passes until his first incompletion in Week 13. And his production certainly contributed to the team getting red hot after the BYE.

We can speculate how he would have finished the 2023 NFL season had he been included in the offense early on. As it ended up, he had 371 receiving yards and four touchdowns on one have season's worth of work. Would NFL analysts be so quick to ignore him had he put up 750 receiving yards and eight touchdowns?

I think it would be far more difficult to do so.

He is clarifying in practices and scrimmages so far in 2024 that he wants and deserves to be a starter this year. And with plays like this, he is making a very strong case.

While Puka Nacua continues to be sideline with a knee injury, Demarcus Robinson is clearly earning the trust of QB Matthew Stafford, and resuming where the pait left off in 2023. Robinson has amazing chemistry with Stafford, and it is showing up once more. I love having Demarcus Robinson on this roster. He is an unassuming competitor who continues to be an under-the-radar productive receiver that this team needs.