WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – One of Jordan Whittington's best attributes from his time at Texas was his willingness to play all three phases of special teams, even as he became a regular in the wide receiver rotation and ascended into becoming a key part of the Longhorns' offense.

In the late stages of his rookie season with the Rams, the wide receiver has put that special teams background to good use, becoming a difference-maker for that unit within Los Angeles' four-game win streak entering Week 17 against the Arizona Cardinals.

"I think I've been learning more and more every week," Whittington said postgame. "But I've got a really good special teams coach, and a good unit. We all hold each other to a high standard."

The Rams' longest kickoff return of the season currently belongs to Whittington, a 43-yarder that set up the Rams' go-ahead touchdown drive in a 21-14 road win over the Saints in Week 13.

Overall, he has returned 13 kickoffs for 340 yards, both team highs.

Head coach Sean McVay on Monday said Whittington's big, physical frame – he's listed at 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds – and fearlessness were factors in keeping Whittington in the return specialist role. McVay also said this year's hybrid kickoff format is conducive to a skillset like Whittington's, given his background as a former running back.

"He hits it full speed. He's heavy on contact. He has good contact balance," McVay said. "You've had some opportunities where you see that explosiveness and that background as an unbelievable high school running back."

Then there's Whittington's clutch play as a gunner as recent as last week, when he timed his jump perfectly to toss the ball back before it landed in the end zone for a touchback, allowing the Rams to down it at the Jets' 1-yard line. He later recovered a muffed punt that helped put that game away for L.A.

"I thought it was a huge play that he made to be able to ultimately end the game yesterday," McVay said. "Even talking about it when (L.A. Daily News reporter) Adam (Grosbard) was asking some of the questions, I thought he played really well as a receiver early on in the year when we didn't have Cooper (Kupp) and Puka (Nacua) in the lineup and got some really beneficial experience."

"When you get those opportunities, you gotta make them yours," Whittington said postgame. "Just jumped on the ball like a cat, and it went our way."

McVay has been pleased with the overall growth he's seen from Whittington.

"He's a guy who is continuing to just be able to carve out value for himself for this team, whether that's on [special] teams and whether that's in a receiver role," McVay said. "We love what he's all about and I've been really proud just watching him continue to grow through his rookie year."