10 Observations from Rams’ first OTA practice of 2025 offseason program: Excused Puka Nacua absence, Davante Adams, Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell’s playmaking, and more

Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-rams-first-ota-open-practice-2025-offseason-program-excused-puka-nacua-absence-davante-adams-jordan-whittington-and-tutu-atwell-s-playmaking-and-more

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Rams held their first OTA practice on Wednesday. While wide receiver Puka Nacua was not on the field due to an excused absence, that afforded additional snaps and opportunities to fellow receivers Davante Adams, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington to build their connection with quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Here are some of the notes and observations from it:

1) Nacua excused absence due to “special trip” with family: McVay said the wide receiver had been in communication about this trip a couple months in advance and is returning from it today, which is why he wasn’t on the field for the team’s OTA workout. (And it’s worth reiterating these workouts are voluntary until minicamp).

2) Kyren Williams present for OTAs: Even as the Rams running back heads into the final year of his contract, he was present for the team’s first OTA workout of the spring.

“Kyren has been the same stud that we know,” head coach Sean McVay said. “Great demeanor, great willingness to come out here, to work, to be able to get better. He’s been great in terms of our communication. It means a lot, just because, you don’t minimize those things are real, and those are real things that guys have to navigate.”

3) Extended look at Stafford-Adams connection: Nacua’s absence naturally created more opportunities for Matthew Stafford to look new wide receiver Davante Adams’ way throughout team drills Wednesday. The tempo and body control Adams is known for playing with was on display on one pass he snared from Stafford over the middle during 11-on-11 work.

4) Competitive mix: As added context, the Rams maintained the same approach with pitting the projected first-team offense against the first-team defense, first-team offense against the second-team defense and vice-versa, and so on.

5) Play of the day: Stafford had a deep touchdown pass over the middle to wide receiver Tutu Atwell, with Atwell displaying the speed he’s known for when given the opportunity to make plays.

6) Play of the day, Part II: Nacua’s absence also meant more opportunities for second-year receiver Jordan Whittington on Wednesday. His best catch of the day was a leaping, two-handed grab on a corner route toward the sideline.

7) Getting to see what Forbes can do: Third-year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes didn’t see a ton of action after being claimed late last season off waivers from the Commanders, at least until Week 18 against Seattle when Los Angeles rested its starters and gave him 52 defensive snaps and four special teams snaps, according to Pro Football Focus (McVay said Wednesday he thought Forbes “did some really good stuff” in that game). On Wednesday, he intercepted a Jimmy Garoppolo pass intended for wide receiver Xavier Smith on an out-breaking route near the sideline.

8) Jolly on the spot: Cornerback Shaun Jolly corralled an interception Wednesday on a Matthew Stafford pass.

Playmaking like that from Jolly and Forbes is likely why McVay said he feels really good about the development of the group, and where the secondary as a whole is at.

9) Derion Kendrick participating: McVay said it was “good to see” the fourth-year cornerback out there. Kendrick’s season ended prematurely last year due to a torn ACL sustained in the first week of camp.

10) Special visitor: Lakers coach JJ Redick took in Wednesday’s OTA workout, and also spoke with Rams players.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said he first connected with Redick prior to him getting the Lakers job, and that he “always respected him from afar.”

“A well-thought-out guy, a great willingness to look inwardly (for) areas of improvement, understanding how you bring people together,” McVay said. “Really enjoyed him coming out.”

Teams with the highest percentage of players returning to the roster in 2025 (PS players not included)

1. Broncos- 86.0%
2. Packers- 84.5%
3. Bills- 84.2%
4. Lions- 80.0%
5. Bengals- 79.1%
6. Bucs- 78.1%
7. Cowboys- 77.9%
8. Rams- 77.0%
9. Giants- 76.8%
10. Commanders- 75.9%

— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) May 27, 2025

Rams run a tckle twist or torch whatever you want to call it, Kobie gets the double to free Fiske, but also get sack, but watch Kobie's hands–how he chops RG's insude arm and keeps feet chargin

Kobie Turner is most underrated player in NFL, I've now decided pic.twitter.com/XFlCIJNo8W

— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) June 21, 2025

from Jarquez Hunter 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Auburn RB: https://www.the33rdteam.com/jarquez-hunter-2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report/

Scouting Overview

Auburn Tigers running back Jarquez Hunter is a one-cut, physical runner with good explosive burst and contact balance to help create added yardage on his own. The profile in the passing game is modest as a protector and a receiver, but Hunter does provide some upside as a potential returner to boost his profile for teams.
He runs violently but isn’t big, creating a unique foil that allows him to run under the pads of blockers before twisting and contorting for whatever extra space he can ultimately claim for himself.

Positives

Bursty one-cut ability to burst upfield and break soft tackle challenges in the hole
Showcases good initial vision coming out of the mesh point to identify rush track
Offers return ability on special teams to add to contribution opportunities

Negatives

Does not showcase the ability to string multiple cuts together and pick through advanced traffic in space
Does not showcase appeal as either a route runner or pass protector for third down role
Ideally, he would be a bigger player to match his running style

Tale Of The Tape

Hunter is a strong, urgent runner who makes the most of his opportunities to slash and gouge the opposing front. He’s got good pop when breaking into a crease and showcases the ability to burst upfield. This will be a useful tool in his belt for executing zone runs on the inside, although he does have sufficient speed to take runs to the perimeter as well.

Hunter is best with his pads north, however. It allows him to build momentum and run behind his frame. Hunter is built low to the ground and poses challenges for defenders to try to work up and underneath his pads.

Once he commits to a track, he’ll stay with it and push the pace to maximize his gains on that path. Teams looking for a back who is not afraid of contact and willing to finish all of his runs through contact will like what he can be as a “wear down” change of pace option.

In a perfect world, he’d be a heavier player to truly offer punishing and bruising collisions. Still, Hunter does have the ability to twist and spin out of contact sufficiently and thanks to his low center of gravity, he’s difficult to wrap and square up at first contact.

However, Hunter is a linear player and lacks the same appeal when playing with a loose lower half. He doesn’t string cuts together particularly well, and he’s mostly a tightly wound ball of muscle as opposed to a slippery, fluid runner through tight creases and spaces.

In the passing game, Hunter lacks appeal. He does not have the wiggle, creativity, or catch radius to warrant extensive looks in this role. As a pass protector, he can be tardy or inefficient when framing blocks on the edges, which leaves his pocket setting shaky and inconsistent.

Hunter does offer kick return experience and was a productive returner in his early years at Auburn. He could feasibly mirror a similar added value track at the pro level as well.

Ideal Scheme Fit, Role

Hunter projects as a potential rotational piece of a running back stable.

His one-cut, no-nonsense style and physical running would ideally serve as a developmental depth piece for an offense looking to implement a lot of inside zone.

.@RamsNFL @CooperKupp one of the great seasons in the history of receivers…Stafford been going "No Look" passes as long as anyone. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/EN4Re5XWme

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) May 27, 2025

Football Insights@fball_insights
Jarquez Hunter college splits inside/outside the tackles with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum

YAC = yards after contact
MTF = missed tackles forced

from PFF, Every NFL team’s biggest question after the 2025 NFL Draft: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-every-nfl-team-biggest-question-after-2025-nfl-draft#19

Los Angeles Rams: Will anything be done to address the secondary?

The Rams’ offseason has been fun, from retaining Matthew Stafford and Alaric Jackson to signing Davante Adams and Poona Ford. Then again, general manager Les Snead has barely touched a secondary that placed 19th in PFF coverage grade a season ago.

For now, Los Angeles appears content to trot out both Ahkello Witherspoon (62.6 PFF coverage grade) and Darious Williams (59.8 PFF coverage grade) as its starting perimeter cornerbacks, not signing or drafting one altogether. Safety may have a slightly better outlook if Kamren Kinchens (73.7 PFF coverage grade) receives more playing time, but Quentin Lake and Kamren Curl each finished below a 62.5 PFF coverage grade. The Rams’ burgeoning defensive line should be strong, but their secondary remains a problem — barring a reunion with Jalen Ramsey or another signing.

The #Lions pursued Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby prior to the 2024 trade deadline, but with Aidan Hutchinson healthy and on track for a massive extension, Detroit is not a realistic suitor for #Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson. https://t.co/HdkiHhPHYN

— Pro Football Rumors (@pfrumors) May 25, 2025

Kamren Kinchens Drawing National Attention

Rookie safety Kamren Kinchens is being praised as one of the most underappreciated players in the league. Despite a slow 40 time at the Combine, he recorded 4 interceptions and a 103-yard pick-six. Some scouts are even tossing around Hall of Fame comparisons.

Read more: https://www.lafbnetwork.com/nfl/la-rams/la-rams-news/los-angeles-rams-kam-kinchens-underappreciated

Two Rams legends will be on the panel for the NFL's new Protector of the Year Award https://t.co/gCBRod78eW pic.twitter.com/Wzz29TifEJ

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) May 24, 2025

…

ie. Pace & Whitworth

Watch the DOWN TO THE WIRE Finish of an Unbelievable Game in L.A. (Rams/Bills 2024)

What is the strongest division in the NFL?https://t.co/z8PGrAG8UI

— PFF (@PFF) May 22, 2025

…

[see link above]

1. NFC North
2. AFC West

3. NFC WEST: RAMS, CARDINALS, SEAHAWKS, 49ERS
Cumulative over/under win total: 37

If the Cardinals take the next step — and there’s reason to believe they can — the NFC West could turn into a four-team slugfest. Kyler Murray quietly posted his second-highest big-time throw rate (4.7%) in 2024 while keeping his turnover-worthy play percentage at a career-low 2.4%. With the defensive reinforcements Arizona added this offseason, they’re well-positioned to push for a 10-win campaign.

The Rams remain one of the toughest outs in the league, and if not for the blizzard in their playoff game against the Eagles, they might have been on their way to the NFC Championship Game. Seattle faces more uncertainty, with Sam Darnold stepping in at quarterback and no D.K. Metcalf in the receiving corps. As for the 49ers, health will be the biggest variable, but one key area they addressed was the run defense, which ranked 28th in the NFL last year in terms of run-defense grade. Their draft class should go a long way toward correcting that.

4. AFC North
5. NFC East
6. NFC South
7. AFC East
8. AFC South