WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Rams on Friday waived wide receiver Xavier Smith.
Smith, 29, primarily served as the team's punt returner through the first three weeks of this season, and all throughout last season, also spending time in the role during his first season with the team in 2024. He averaged 9.4 yards per punt in 50 returns across 34 games played, with longs of 38 in 2024, 31 in 2025 and 19 this season.
While miscues on special teams in recent weeks have not fallen on Smith alone, he did have a costly one last Sunday night against the Broncos when he fielded the ball at the Rams' own goal line and returned it 10 yards with 14:08 remaining in the third quarter. The ensuing 3-and-out off of that steep starting field position in their own territory, and the Broncos returning the ensuing punt 28 yards to the Rams' 42, gave the Broncos what would be their best starting field position for an offensive series all game in a sequence of events that turned the momentum in Denver's favor.
Speaking with the media prior to Thursday's practice, Rams special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said Smith "has been consistent," but also that there had been no thought about replacing him as the team's punt returner. Given the time Smith punt in throughout training camp and into the regular season, Ventrone was confident Smith "would do the necessary things to be able to sustain at that position for us."
McVay said Friday morning that the Rams were not thinking about making a change at punt returner at the time Ventrone spoke to media Thursday afternoon. But after taking a step back to "evaluate the totality of our group" and determine "what's the best way to try to be able to put together all three phases," McVay felt the decision to move on from Smith was in the best interest for the team.
McVay said they made that decision later Thursday night, then he met with Smith Friday morning. McVay said "there were some decisions last week that we've got to make better decisions, we got to be able to field it, and that doesn't mean I love (Smith) any less. But we need better production from that position that he was playing a critical factor in."
McVay said wide receiver Alex Bachman, who is currently on the team's practice squad, will step into the punt returner role. Asked if he anticipates long-term trying to work some guys out to see if they might be fits at punt returner, McVay said "I think I'm interested to see how Alex does."
"We're always looking at if there's way of improving the caliber of our team," McVay said. "Those will be avenues that we'll always explore within whatever parameters that we can do that within, and so I would certainly never say no. But I am also optimistic that I think we're gonna see some good stuff from Alex on Sunday."
As much as the Rams needed more from the punt returner role, that still didn't make the decision to move on from Smith easy for McVay, given the relationship the two had built since Smith joined the team as an undrafted free agent signee in 2023. Joining an NFL team was a big deal for Smith, who had initially quit playing football after high school and spent 2016 working with Amazon before ultimately applying to Florida A&M University and successfully trying out for the school's football team as a walk-on in 2017.
Ultimately, though, McVay felt the responsibility to the team to make a change there.
"Number one, very appreciative of Xavier Smith," McVay said. "I think when you look at his journey, there's a lot of cool things that are reflected in sports of overcoming odds and doing some different things, and I love him, appreciate the person. The hard part is, and you tell him and you tell the team, is that ultimately my job, and it's one of the worst parts of it, but it is a part of the job responsibility, is you try to use your values and principles to make decisions that are best for the collective, even if it sometimes doesn't benefit people that you've developed relationships with and you care about. And we just need better production out of that position. That's you know exclusively what it was."
