Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay announced on Tuesday that Kyren Williams, the team’s second-team All-Pro running back, will take on the additional role of punt returner in the 2024 season, as reported by ESPN’s Sarah Barshop.
“It’s another opportunity for him to get touches and impact the game,” McVay stated. “And you feel comfortable with that because of the confidence in (running backs) Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers being able to spell him if need be.”
Williams, who led the NFL in 2023 with an average of 95.3 rushing yards per game, had a standout season. He accumulated 1,144 rushing yards on 230 carries (an average of 5 yards per carry) and scored 12 touchdowns on the ground. Additionally, Williams made 32 receptions for 206 yards and three touchdowns over 12 games. He missed four games due to injury and was rested by the Rams in Week 18 ahead of the playoffs.
The decision to use Williams as a punt returner could be a point of concern, given his injury history. The 24-year-old, drafted in the fifth round in 2022, has dealt with injuries in each of his first two NFL seasons, limiting him to just 10 games as a rookie.
However, Williams has experience in returning punts, having recorded 14 punt returns during his final college season at Notre Dame in 2021. In the 2023 NFL season, he returned three punts, all within the first three weeks.
In preparation for the 2024 season, the Rams selected Blake Corum in the third round of the draft. Corum was instrumental in Michigan’s national title victory. Ronnie Rivers, another running back on the roster, has seen limited action, with 51 touches in his two seasons with the Rams.
