WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The excitement shown by the Rams sideline on wide receiver Xavier Smith's electric 38-yard punt return against the 49ers was perhaps only superseded by Smith's own feelings in the moment.
His mother, Angenetta Sanchious – the one who encouraged him to keep his football career going even when it seemed unlikely – had flown to Los Angeles to be in attendance for his first NFL game.
"(The experience) was amazing, because my mom, she was in the stands," Smith told theRams.com. "That's my first touch, that's my first game, she got a chance to witness it. But man, as much as they gave me the credit, I thank those 10 guys in front of me who blocked for me, man, paved that way, gained that leverage. They did their one-eleventh, so felt like it was on me to do my one-eleventh after what they did."
Smith's 38-yard punt return – his first NFL touch of his career – sparked the Rams' final push toward their 27-24 comeback win over the 49ers last week.
Rams head coach Sean McVay on Friday confirmed Smith will be returning punts and kickoffs this weekend, and at least be elevated from the practice squad for this Sunday's game against the Bears.
"Fortunately or unfortunately, we've got some roster ability to be able to move some different things around with the injuries that we do have," McVay said prior to Friday's practice. "Whether or not he's another flex from the practice squad or whether we actually put him on the active roster, those are just more mechanical things but he'll be returning punts and kicks."
Smith, in Episode 4 of this year's "Behind The Grind" series, said there was a point in time when reaching the NFL wasn't a goal of his anymore. Coming out of high school, he tried generating recruiting interest but was unsuccessful, so he settled on working for Amazon in 2016 before applying to his mother's alma mater, Florida A&M, a year later at her encouragement, and walking on to Florida A&M's football team.
After a college career that included a breakout 2019 season with 71 receptions for 1,159 yards and 11 touchdowns, and later a career-best 87 receptions for 1,021 yards and 11 touchdowns that garnered HBCU All-American recognition in 2022, an impressive performance at the 2023 HBCU combine in New Orleans – he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 and 4.39 seconds – got the attention of NFL evaluators in attendance.
From there, he signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent, spending the entirety of the 2023 season on the practice squad and beginning this season on that team as well before last week's standard elevation to the active roster.
Even though he didn't make this year's initial 53-man roster, his work ethic remained unchanged.
"He knew in the preseason he did really well. He earned the right to have an opportunity to make our team, didn't work out [on] day one, but I just kept telling him to keep the faith, continue to work and the guys believed in him," special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn said. "You saw the explosiveness, you see what he does everyday, the consistency of who he is and just his character. That's what's got him here. I told him after the game how proud I was of him. Not because of the return, not because of that one play, but just to be able to sustain throughout not getting elevated, not having that opportunity and just continuing to be the same person every day."
And all his time spent on the practice squad, and effectively not being activated or elevated for a game, Smith stayed ready.
"I didn't know this but, but Chase (Blackburn), even not being up for a game, he's in there asking (Blackburn) about punter keys, he's asking about what types of punts we're getting, even if he's not necessarily up for the game," linebacker Christian Rozeboom said. "And for me, just seeing his success after being on practice squad for a year, and then coming in, getting his opportunity and how he made the most of it, it's really cool just with me being on practice squad for a full year and kind of where that can bring you just making the most of your opportunities. Really proud of him and excited for him, and hopefully he can make a lot more plays like that in the future."
Another explosive return this week would no doubt benefit the Rams against a Bears special teams unit that has been an edge (see Week 1 against the Titans) and a letdown in others (kicker Cairos Santos missed one of his two field goal attempts in the Bears' 21-16 road loss to the Colts last week).
A return like that perhaps would get Smith the chance to get another game ball. Last week's is being commemoratively painted and will be shipped home to his mom once he gets it back.
Smith's mindset moving forward is simply doing what he's done even going back to last season, in terms of preparing the way he always has. Most importantly, he's not pressing and letting the game come to him.
"It really felt amazing (to finally get an opportunity), because this is something that I worked so long, so hard (for)," Smith said. "Just being patient, watching the guys in front of me grind, and taking some of the things that they apply to their game, so for me, it just feels great. I'm finally able to go out there and compete with the guys that I compete with every day throughout the week."
