LOS ANGELES – Sharp performances all around by the wide receivers characterized Saturday's open practice at Rams training camp presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union. Demarcus Robinson had a strong day, with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua making their fair share of plays too.
Here are 10 things that stood out from the session:
1) No Darious Williams: Williams did not practice Saturday after sustaining a hamstring strain at the end of Thursday's practice. Rams head coach Sean McVay said they will take things "a week at a time" with the defensive back's return.
2) Welcome Jerry Jacobs: The new defensive back practiced Saturday after signing with the team, wearing the number 4.
3) Demarcus' big day: Robinson hauled back-to-back passes from quarterback Matthew Stafford early on in team drills, then later capitalized on a perfectly thrown ball for a deep touchdown catch. All three receptions were a reminded of the 6-foot-1, 202 receiver's speed and size that made him a valuable target for Stafford over the second half of the 2023 season.
4) Going up: One of the most impressive catches of the day was a leaping grab near the sideline by Puka Nacua, in which he pulled the ball toward his midsection in mid-air to secure and come down with it. There were lots of cheers from that. Nacua was also on the receiving end of a Stafford touchdown pass during redzone drills.
5) The Stafford-Cooper Kupp connection: This shined especially in situational drills and the competitive "mamba" period, both being in rhythm with a few early completions to keep the chains moving.
6) Going deep: Tutu Atwell had two impressive catches on Saturday, one deep toward the right sideline from Garoppolo, another mid-range from Stafford toward the left sideline in traffic.
7) Xavier Smith productive: The second-year wide receiver continued the string of strong play by receivers on Saturday, connecting with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo multiple times during team drills.
8) Helpful Higbee: Veteran tight end Tyler Higbee at one point during team drills was giving pointers to second-year tight end Davis Allen on the sideline after a run play.
9) Jones, other defensive veterans' workloads being managed: Linebacker Ernest Jones IV's participation was scaled back some on Saturday by design. McVay said Jones practiced for the whole beginning of the session, and they structured the practice so that they were deloading Jones towards the latter half in order to get other players some snaps.
"So you'll see that kind of approach with some guys like him, John Johnson, Tre White, and some of our guys up front as well," McVay said.
10) Extended look at special teams, kickers: Special teams began Saturday's practice. Punter Ethan Evans impressed with his hangtime and placement. Later on, kickers Joshua Karty and Tanner Brown were mixed in with field goal attempts at the end of series in the mamba period.
