Rams' $10 million problem just became impossible to hide in Week 14

While he never sought the spotlight, the bench, or controversy, veteran wide receiver Tutu Atwell is finding it impossible to find his way back to the 9-3 Los Angeles Rams roster. That's a bit ironic, as the same team ante'd up $10 million to extend him for one more season.

He appeared to be underwhelming after four weeks into the new season. LA struggled to justify that contract extension at the end of October. Now, the entire Tutu Atwell experiment seems to be blowing up in the coaches' faces.

He is healthy enough to play. Los Angeles elevated him to designated-to-return status in Week 13. His Week 14 status is no better, as he is not expected to be activated to face the Arizona Cardinals either. With time running out of his 21-day window, fans are beginning to show concern about whether he will be activated this season.

Shockingly, head coach Sean McVay doesn't have the answer yet. Yikes!

It's almost unthinkable that a player who was once deemed to be such an integral part of the offense to warrant $10 million for one more season is now so out of favor that the team is seriously considering going without him the rest of the way. The same receiver who put up 562 yards in 2024 is at risk of staying on the bench this season. So, what happened?

3 harsh truths that define Tutu Atwell's dilemma this season

There are three harsh truths that are all in play for the team right now. While none are a direct result of Atwell at the moment, all three pose formidable resistance to reactivating him

1. Tutu Atwell is ever ready to contribute on offense

The first is that Atwell responds whenever the team allows him to contribute. The challenge has always been getting opportunities. While the injury status of former starting wide receiver Cooper Kupp had ensured both starts and targets, the durability of veteran wide receiver Davante Adams has squelched that emergency-starter status in 2025.

Nine targets in 2025 is the lowest number of targets since his rookie season, a year he was used primarily on special teams.

2. Tutu Atwell is not living up to his current contract

As soon as the team cut a $10 million check to play one more season for Atwell in this offense, some fans questioned the logic. It turns out they were right to do so. If the season ended today, Atwell would cost the team $1.11 million per target and $2.5 million per reception. That's far too pricey and is not sustainable for a team that has to shift dollars to the defensive side of the football in 2026.

3. The LA Rams offense has evolved without Atwell

While Atwell's speed made him ideally suited for 12-personnel, this offense evolved without him this season out of necessity. Now that 13-personnel is a staple formation, the roster no longer has the flexibility to restore Atwell to active duty without shaving production elsewhere. With the team winning nine of 12 games so far, and scoring plenty of points in the process, it's difficult to rearrange the roster to bring Atwell back.

Nobody claims Atwell cannot play productively in the NFL He could be incredibly effective in the offenses of the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and perhaps even the Green Bay Packers or the Minnesota Vikings. He can put up 1000+ receiving yards, but only if he gets enough passes thrown his way.

The Los Angeles Rams' $10 million problem just became impossible to hide in Week 14. Tutu Atwell is ready to play, but the team refuses to activate him from injured reserve to do so. And so, it's one to chalk up to an expensive lesson learned. Hopefully, it's not one the team will repeat anytime soon.

As always, thanks for reading.