Tutu Atwell takes Rams passing game vertical

Tutu Atwell is on pace to have a career year this season. The fourth-year wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams is coming into his own as a playmaker. 

“Tutu, he’s the type of receiver that gets on your toes real fast. He’s got speed, you know, coming off the line and he’s got long speed,” Rams safety Kamren Curl said. “You always got to be aware of the deep threat when you’re around Tutu.”   

In Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers, Atwell used his legit 4.3 speed at the right time to help the Rams defeat their NFC West Division rivals. 

With a little more than two minutes left in the game and the Rams trailing the 49ers, 24-17, Atwell hit the jets to blow by Charvarius Ward to come up with a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch that put Los Angeles in position to tie the game.

The Rams went on to win the game, 27-24, thanks to the former Louisville star using his speedy wheels to connect with quarterback Matthew Stafford on a 50-yard pass play. But if he didn’t have the mittens to make that reception it all becomes null and void.    

“It was good,” Atwell said about the win. “It was a big play.”    

The combination of having a good pair of hands and game-breaking speed makes it difficult to defend Atwell, Curl said.  

“He’s got good hands,” Curl remarked. “Usually, guys his size aren’t good route runners or can’t catch the ball through, but he has those in his tool set as well.” 

The game against the 49ers is just one example of Atwell gaining steam as a dependable wideout for Stafford and the Rams. With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua going down with injuries this season, Atwell is doing his part to take up the slack. 

In Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers, Atwell had the highest number of targets (10) and catches (6) in a game this season. Continuing on this pathway trajectory, Atwell has also seen his target numbers and catches go up from the previous two years. 

In his rookie season, Atwell appeared in eight games but didn’t do much. It was his second-year that Atwell started to blossom. Atwell played 13 games and caught 18 passes for 298 yards in 2022.  

Though his number of catches was limited, Atwell displayed his big-play capabilities, averaging 16.6 yards a catch. He played in 16 games during the 2023 season and caught 39 passes for 483 yards, a 12.4 yards per catch average. 

Through the first five games of the 2024 season, Atwell has been targeted 25 times and has caught 17 passes for 281 yards at a whopping 16.5 yards per catch. 

Six of the 17 catches that Atwell has made have been for 20 yards or more. Rams head coach Sean McVay raves about the strides that Atwell has made at the wide receiver position.         

“He’s improved,” McVay said. “I think he’s taken advantage of his opportunities. He’s done a good job of being able to make the most of the chances that he’s had when he is being targeted, whether that be on some of the early downs or even third downs but I’ve been pleased with Tu [Tutu] the last couple weeks.”

While the statistical results show his growth, Atwell said his approach to the game this season is no different than it has been in previous years. 

“Pretty much nothing,” Atwell said about any adjustments he has had to make. “Just following my routine and staying in the moment and pretty much just wait for my number to be called. I just always be myself, follow my same routine, and pretty much just focus on what I got to do.”  

With his number being called more often, Atwell has opened up the passing game for the Rams. As a speedster, Atwell helps create space so other wideouts have the opportunity to maneuver underneath on shorter passing routes. But don’t be fooled by Atwell’s diminutive size. 

His toughness belies his 5-foot-9, 165-pound frame. He’ll go across the middle if he needs to and can mix it up on the intermediate routes.

“I can do it all,” Atwell said. 

While Atwell continues to work on his development as a more well-rounded receiver, his chief responsibility as a burner is running by people. 

“I feel like people look at his size and they don’t think he’s that much explosive or that much of a threat,” Rams cornerback Cobie Durant said. “Going up against Tutu, you got to respect his speed.”  

Respect. That’s something that’s earned. So building trust with Stafford has been a work in progress for both wide receiver and quarterback. Stafford is the savvy veteran. Atwell is a young receiver trying to earn his quarterback’s trust. 

After spending the last couple of seasons together, Stafford is feeling more comfortable with Atwell.   

“Well, I’ve had some experience with him. He’s been around for a couple years,” Stafford said. “He’s a smart football player, played quarterback in high school [and] sees the game kind of through a quarterback lens, which is nice when you talk to him. He can understand some of the things that we’re trying to get done and then obviously he has physical tools.”

“He can run, he catches the ball away from his body,” Stafford added. “For a guy that is not the biggest guy in the world, he catches it away from his body really well and does some nice stuff with the second level of defenses. I think the more reps you get with everybody the more trust and familiarity you get, but he has really done a nice job with his opportunities as well.”