Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay clarified that Thursday’s trade reacquiring wide receiver Tutu Atwell from the Miami Dolphins for running back Jarquez Hunter had nothing to do with a possible suspension for receiver Puka Nacua, pointing instead to roster depth and speed.
The Los Angeles Rams brought wide receiver Tutu Atwell back to the team in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, sending running back Jarquez Hunter to Miami on Thursday. The Rams announced the surprising deal Thursday before their final preseason game against the Chargers.
Puka Nacua was sued by a woman who accused him of biting her and making an antisemetic remark, which opened up the possibility of the league taking disciplinary action against him. Nacua is still navigating a legal matter stemming from biting allegations from a group excursion on New Year’s Eve 2025. The Rams’ trade for Atwell, who won a Super Bowl with the organization as a rookie, sparked speculation about Nacua.
Sean McVay Addresses Speculation Over Puka Nacua
Speaking to reporters after Thursday night’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers, coach Sean McVay was asked if the Atwell trade was made to protect against a possible suspension. McVay pushed back against any connection between the Atwell acquisition and Nacua’s situation, telling reporters on August 27:
Photo: newsday.com
“It had nothing to do with that. It was exclusively a guy we were familiar with . . . We’re familiar with Tutu. He adds depth. It gives us an opportunity to be able to have that speed element, and he can do some different things. It had nothing to do with anything other than just adding depth to the receiver room.”
McVay also told reporters, No. No, it had nothing to do with that. It was exclusively [a] guy that we were familiar with that, you could really get at [a price] we felt like was good for us and good for Jarquez [Hunter]. The Southern California News Group confirmed details of the swap Thursday morning ahead of the league’s roster cutdown to 53 players, reporting that the Rams traded running back Jarquez Hunter to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver Tutu Atwell.
Tutu Atwell’s Return to Los Angeles
Atwell enters his second stint with the franchise that originally selected him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent his first five NFL seasons with the Rams, even receiving a Super Bowl ring as an injured rookie. Atwell was a steady producer from 2022 to 2024, catching 99 passes for 1,343 yards and four touchdowns, and Los Angeles re-signed him last offseason to a one-year, $10 million deal.
However, Atwell fell out of the rotation quickly and finished with just six catches for 192 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets. He frequently struggled to get regular playing time for McVay, partly because of his small size and perceived blocking deficiencies, and he was often a healthy scratch down the stretch of the season as the Rams leaned into three-tight end sets and had to fix their special teams units on the fly — and Atwell didn’t contribute to that phase. He then played in just 10 games because of injuries, appearing on just 16.5% of the Rams’ offensive snaps.
That lone score proved memorable, standing as the NFL’s longest catch of the season — a go-ahead, 88-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford in a comeback victory over the Colts. In the spring, Atwell signed with his hometown Dolphins on a $1.4 million, one-year deal.
Financial Breakdown and Roster Impact
Trading out of a position of immense depth, the Rams are bringing a familiar face back into their receiving room ahead of Sunday’s 53-man roster crunch. While Atwell might help if the team is without Nacua for any portion of the season, the Rams had a need for receiver depth beyond that scenario and Atwell offered a way to get it without bringing in a player who has no familiarity with the system in Los Angeles.
Sean McVay REVEALS WHY Tutu Atwell Was NOT USED in Rams Offense. It Actually Makes Sense!
Hunter was a fourth-round pick in 2025. Atwell returns to a receivers room — and an offense under McVay and offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, who previously served as the Rams’ passing game coordinator — that he knows very well.
Photo: The New York Times
At 26 years old, the speedy 5-foot-9 receiver could push out a rookie such as CJ Daniels or receiver/kick returner Xavier Smith for playing time or possibly a spot on the final 53-man roster altogether. McVay added, “I think he’ll do a good job for the Dolphins, and it’s never easy when you have guys that are such great people. But we’re familiar with Tutu. He adds depth. It gives us an opportunity to be able to have that speed element, and he can do some different things that it had nothing [to do with that].”
Daniel Richardson is the Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, where he leads the editorial team and oversees all published content across nine sport verticals. With over 15 years in sports journalism, Daniel has reported from the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, NFL Super Bowls, NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tennis tournaments. He previously served as Senior Sports Editor at Reuters and holds a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Recognized by the Sports Journalists' Association for excellence in reporting, Daniel is a member of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). His editorial philosophy centers on accuracy, depth, and fair coverage — ensuring every story published on Archysport meets the highest standards of sports journalism.
