It’s been a slow bell curve for Tutu Atwell’s NFL career development as a wide receiver and the Los Angeles Rams plan to stick with it instead of give up on it, according to a report by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler from training camp.

Despite the Rams having a clear top-two with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, as well as $5 million for Demarcus Robinson, L.A. doesn’t want to trade Atwell even if he plays less this season than he did last season.

The Rams have Atwell in their plans for at least one more season, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes. The former second-rounder has totaled 781 yards and four touchdowns to date, averaging 13.7 yards per reception.

That figure demonstrated his abilities as a deep threat, although the 5-9, 165-pounder can also be used in the run game and as a returner.

A strong showing in at least one capacity will be needed for him to earn a second contract with Los Angeles.

Atwell, who didn’t become a receiver until he got to Louisville in 2018, played a career-high 687 offensive snaps in 2023. But as the Rams finally started to win games last year after Kupp’s return from injury and mideway through the year, that lines up with Sean McVay essentially benching Atwell.

From Week 14 to Week 17, Atwell played in a total of 17 snaps and didn’t catch any passes. McVay let him return to the starting lineup in a meaningless Week 18 game and he had two catches for seven yards on four targets. But Atwell redeemed himself a little by catching a 38-yard touchdown pass in the wild card game.

Since his first two games of 2023 however (13 catches for 196 yards), Tutu Atwell has just been a gadget play. Design 1-2 plays per game for Atwell and that’s usually all he’s out there for, to be a distraction and then get a few targets.

But whatever the Rams do and do not plan to do with Tutu Atwell this year, trade or cut or play or bench him, plans change very fast in this league. Depending on how healthy others are and how good they’re doing, Atwell’s future will change based on factors that could be out of his control.

All he can control is how he performs when he does get opportunities, and that’s why he needs to execute better when those chances go his way.