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3 Biggest Rams Special Teams Questions Heading Into Training Camp
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- 3 Biggest Rams Special Teams Questions Heading Into Training Camp
(Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
As the Los Angeles Rams prepare for training camp, there is no doubt that both the offense and the defense have the talent to have strong seasons. However, it may be up to the special teams to ultimately decide how the 2026 season goes.
Last season, the Rams made several mistakes on special teams, which arguably cost them the NFC Championship Game.
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Xavier Smith 's muffed punt led to the Seattle Seahawks scoring. If the Rams want to truly compete for a Super Bowl, this is an area of the game that must be significantly better than a season ago.
So, here are the three biggest Rams special teams questions heading into training camp.
3. Who Will the Rams Trust to Return Kicks?
As previously mentioned, one of the biggest mistakes the Rams made on special teams last season was Smith's muffed punt against the Seahawks in the NFC title game.
However, for the season as a whole, Smith was a solid punt returner for the Rams, as he had 27 returns for 253 yards and averaged 9.3 yards per return. While he did make a big mistake, he was consistent all year long, which could be something to be looked at when considering who will return punts in 2026.
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In terms of kickoffs, the Rams used a variety of players, including Jordan Whittington , who led the way with 17 returns for 434 yards and 25.5 yards per attempt. In addition to Whittington, Ronnie Rivers , Blake Corum , and Xavier Smith all crossed the 300-yard mark and averaged at least 23 yards per return.
The key in the return game for the Rams is whether or not they still trust Smith in the punt return game and whether they want to continue returning kickoffs by committee or have one or two featured returners. Whatever Los Angeles decides could be critical for the performance of the special teams in 2026.
2. Can Bubba Ventrone Turn the Special Teams Unit Around Overall?
The next major question is whether or not new special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone can help this unit to take a step forward overall.
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In 2025, it seemed that there were constant problems on the unit for the Rams, which was the difference and part of the reason why they lost two key games to Seattle, the matchups with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers , and why the Wild Card game against the Carolina Panthers was a lot closer than it should have been.
For Ventrone to truly make an impact on special teams, his ability to limit the back-breaking plays is critical, just as much as making the easy plays. One area the Rams must do a better job in is overall protection on field goals and punts, as in 2025 they had a total of four kicks blocked. That is something that this team cannot allow to happen again.
If Ventrone can significantly improve the kick protection and help this unit to limit the major mistakes overall, the Rams' special teams could become a strength instead of a weakness in 2026.
1. Will Harrison Mevis and Ethan Evans Continue to Develop?
Lastly, the Rams must figure out whether or not Harrison Mevis and Ethan Evans will continue to develop and become the foundation of the special teams unit.
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During the 2025 season, Mevis was put in a very tough position as he became the starting kicker in the middle of the season as a result of the struggles of Joshua Karty . While it was by no means an easy situation for Mevis, he excelled as he made 92.3 percent of his field goals and 100 percent of his extra points.
Heading into 2026, Mevis' ability to make kicks just as consistently for 17 games throughout the course of games and in the biggest moments will definitely be something to monitor as the season progresses.
On the other hand, Evans had a solid season punting but could benefit from better punt coverage. Last season, Evans averaged 46.3 yards per punt (No. 23 in the NFL) and a NET average of 38 yards per punt (No. 28 in the NFL). It is also important to note that he did have an amazing performance during the Rams' first matchup with the Seahawks, as he pinned them at their own 1-yard line, which played a key part in the win.
After a solid first two NFL seasons, it is clear that Evans does have the leg, but this past season, the punt coverage was not good enough, which is part of the reason why his NET per punt was the lowest of his career thus far. However, with Ventrone now taking over as the special teams coordinator, Evans has a great chance of seeing his averages go up with an expected emphasis on special teams.
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Heading into 2026, if Mevis and Evans continue to progress like their play suggests, the Rams should have a much better chance to put more points on the board and pin opponents deep in their own territory which could be the final piece to an already strong roster.
