WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Rams on Thursday agreed to trade running back Jarquez Hunter to the Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver Tutu Atwell, pending a physical.
"It will be good to be able to bring Tutu Atwell back. Obviously wish Jarquez Hunter nothing but the best moving forward," head coach Sean McVay said postgame after the Rams' 20-18 preseason win over the Chargers Thursday night. "Felt like it was a chance to be able to add depth to the receiver room. ... There's a good feel for those top three backs that we saw, and I thought both Jordan (Waters) and Dean (Connors) did a really nice job of solidifying that they're real factors that you've got to be able to take into consideration, what does that look like."
Asked by a reporter whether re-acquiring Atwell was a pre-emptive move in case wide receiver Puka Nacua is suspended, McVay said it had "nothing to do" with a possible Nacua suspension and reiterated that it was a chance to add depth to the receiver room.
Atwell, 26, originally signed a 1-year deal with Miami in free agency on March 13. He became an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year after his previous contract – a one-year deal he signed with Los Angeles in March 2025 – expired.
Through his first five NFL seasons - all with the Rams – Atwell recorded 105 receptions for 1,535 yards and five touchdowns while starting in 27 of 64 regular season games played, plus two receptions for 56 yards and one touchdown across four playoff games.
While he had just six receptions for 192 yards and one touchdown last season with L.A. across 10 games (four starts), the lack of production was due to a changing role as a result of the Rams leaning more into three tight end sets compared to the three wide receiver sets that had become a staple of their offense under head coach Sean McVay.
Atwell first entered the NFL as a second-round pick by the Rams (57th overall) out of Louisville in the 2021 NFL Draft.
A fourth-round pick by the Rams (117th overall) out of Auburn in last year's NFL Draft, Hunter only appeared in five games as a rookie, playing exclusively on special teams.
"There's a lot of love for Tutu Atwell in this locker room and a lot of familiarity," McVay said. "And so I know Miami's home for him, but this is his second home. So we're excited to be able to welcome him back."
