Williams to return punts in '24 as Rams eye more 'impact' from top RB

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay announced Tuesday that second-team All-Pro running back Kyren Williams will also be the team's punt returner in 2024, according to ESPN's Sarah Barshop.

"It's another opportunity for him to get touches and impact the game," McVay said of Williams. "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 is coming off an excellent 2023 season in which he led the NFL with 95.3 rushing yards per game. The 24-year-old finished the season with 1,144 yards (5 per carry) and 12 touchdowns on the ground to go along with 32 receptions for 206 yards and three scores in 12 appearances. He missed four games due to injury, and L.A. rested him in Week 18 before the start of the playoffs.

Using Williams as a punt returner could become an issue for the Rams as the 2022 fifth-round pick has battled injuries in both of his NFL seasons so far. The Notre Dame product played in just 10 games as a rookie.

Williams isn't new to returning punts, though. He posted 14 punt returns in his final college season in 2021 and returned three punts last year. All of his 2023 returns took place in the campaign's first three weeks.

Los Angeles used a third-round pick on Corum this year after he helped Michigan win the national title. Rivers has recorded only 51 touches across two campaigns with the Rams.