Xavier Smith - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Rams are still stunned, saddened after a standout season ended just short of another Super Bowl

The Los Angeles Rams could return next season with nearly every important contributor to a team that fell just a few big plays short of another trip to the Super Bowl, and they hav...

JANUARY 26 • Associated Press

4 NFL Title Games Takeaways: How the Patriots, Seahawks Earned Super Bowl Berths

Bucky Brooks breaks down the AFC and NFC Championship Games, with key insights on how the Patriots and Seahawks prevailed.

JANUARY 26 • FOX SPORTS

4 NFL Title Games Takeaways: How the Patriots, Seahawks Earned Super Bowl Berths

Rams' McVay and Stafford lament missed opportunities as they fall short of Super Bowl

Sean McVay had zero interest in discussing whether Matthew Stafford, his soon-to-be 38-year-old quarterback, will be back for the Los Angeles Rams next year

JANUARY 26 • Associated Press

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold 'Shut A Lot of People Up Tonight'

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold continued to rewrite his legacy, adding another chapter with his performance against the Rams on Sunday.

JANUARY 26 • FOX SPORTS

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold 'Shut A Lot of People Up Tonight'

Sam Darnold and Seahawks advance to Super Bowl with thrilling 31-27 win over Rams in NFC title game

Sam Darnold threw for three touchdowns, the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense came up with a critical fourth-down stop, and Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl, beating the Los Angeles...

JANUARY 26 • Associated Press

Dareke Young's Muffed Punt Fumble Recovery Puts Seahawks In Scoring Position Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young recovers Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith's fumble on a punt-return attempt during th...

JANUARY 26 • SEAHAWKS.COM

Xavier Smith brutally muffs Rams punt return as Seahawks score off blunder For all their success this season, the Rams have often struggled on special teams.

JANUARY 26 • NYPOST.COM

Little impact in win Smith secured one of two targets for six yards, returned one punt for nine yards and returned one kick for 27 yards during Sunday's 37-20 victory over the Cardinals.

Impact A week removed from leading the Rams in receiving yards, Smith fell back to Earth in a big way against Arizona, reverting back to his more typical output through the 2025 campaign. Smith was fourth on the Rams in receiving yardage with 303 yards on 24 catches with no touchdowns. Smith's role grew as the season progressed, settling in as one of the primary backups behind starters Puka Nacua and Davante Adams (hamstring). Smith will be an exclusive rights free agent after the season and will be a candidate to be offered a one-year deal to return to the Rams as a return specialist and role player at wide receiver once again. Smith's next opportunity to produce comes in a road matchup against Carolina in the wild-card round on Saturday.

JANUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Full Thursday Smith (chest) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Smith led the Rams with 67 receiving yards on four catches in Monday night's loss to the Falcons. With Davante Adams (hamstring) expected to miss Week 18 against Arizona, Smith should again operate as the Rams' third receiver.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Limited walkthrough Smith (chest) was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact In Monday's 27-24 loss in Atlanta, Smith ranked third among Rams wide receivers in snap share with 51 percent behind Puka Nacua (74 percent) and Konata Mumpfield (66 percent). However, Smith paced the team with 67 receiving yards on his four catches. Assuming he's able to play through his chest injury Sunday against the Cardinals, he should continue to earn consistent looks from QB Matthew Stafford because No. 2 WR Davante Adams is expected to miss a third game in a row, as coach Sean McVay told Grosbard on Wednesday.

JANUARY 1 • ROTOWIRE

Rams face questions about their mentality after dismaying loss to Atlanta extends their late slump

The Los Angeles Rams were 14 points up on the Seattle Seahawks midway through the fourth quarter less than two weeks ago

DECEMBER 31, 2025 • Associated Press

Leading receiver on MNF Smith had four receptions on six targets for 67 yards while returning three punts for 23 yards in Monday's 27-24 loss to Atlanta.

Impact Smith was shockingly the game's leading receiver in a Monday Night Football matchup that featured star receivers Puka Nacua and Drake London. The 27-year-old Smith's six targets were the most he has seen in a pro game to date. The return specialist was the biggest beneficiary of WR Davante Adams' (hamstring) absence after Tutu Atwell and Konata Mumpfield were held to two catches for 10 yards combined in Monday's loss. Smith appears to be the backup most likely to step up behind Nacua if Adams remains sidelined against Arizona on Sunday for the final game of the regular season.

DECEMBER 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Xavier Watts' hit-stick tackle ends Xavier Smith's forward progress abruptly Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts destroys Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith after the catch.

DECEMBER 30, 2025 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

HIGHLIGHTS: Rams WR Xavier Smith hauls in a 36-yard completion from QB Matthew Stafford against the Falcons Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford slings a 36-yard pass to wide receiver Xavier Smith against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Be...

DECEMBER 30, 2025 • THERAMS.COM

Makes lengthy grab in loss Smith secured both of his targets for 57 yards and returned one punt for 31 yards during Thursday's 38-37 overtime loss to the Seahawks.

Impact On a third-and-9 early in the third quarter, Smith was able to burn past Devon Witherspoon and snag a dart from Matthew Stafford for a 48-yard gain, leading to a Harrison Mevis field goal a few plays later. Smith has shown the ability to make explosive plays when called upon in recent weeks, including a 51-yard catch in Week 13 against Carolina. Fellow backups Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell combined for a single catch for 19 yards, while Konata Mumpfield earned a whopping eight targets, which he turned into three catches for 40 yards. If Davante Adams (hamstring) isn't able to go for a Week 17 matchup in Atlanta on Monday, Dec. 29, Mumpfield and Smith seem like the primary candidates for a role increase behind Puka Nacua.

DECEMBER 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: Xavier Smith's spectacular 48-yard catch gets Rams into Seahawks territory Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford heaves a 48-yard pass to wide receiver Xavier Smith against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Fiel...

DECEMBER 19, 2025 • THERAMS.COM

HIGHLIGHTS: Rams WR Xavier Smith treks downfield on a 31-yard punt return against the Seahawks Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith ignites the jets on 31-yard punt return against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.

DECEMBER 19, 2025 • THERAMS.COM

Rams' faith in their receiver depth to be tested if Adams misses short-week showdown with Seahawks

The Los Angeles Rams have largely been a two-wide-receiver team all season, so Davante Adams’ hamstring injury is likely to reveal whether Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford have anot...

DECEMBER 15, 2025 • Associated Press

Sees little usage Smith failed to record a target during Sunday's 41-34 victory against the Lions.

Impact Sunday marked the first time since Week 6 that Smith was held without a catch, and more concerning was a steep drop in playing time; Smith was only on the field for three snaps on offense. Tutu Atwell returned but only earned four snaps of his own, while Konata Mumpfield and his 32 snaps marked the highest usage out of the backup wideouts. Even with Davante Adams (hamstring) potentially unavailable for a pivotal Week 16 matchup on the road against division rival Seattle, Smith's most likely contribution for the Rams will be on special teams.

DECEMBER 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Rams WR Davante Adams might not be ready for Seahawks showdown after reinjuring hamstring vs Lions

Wide receiver Davante Adams could miss the Rams’ short-week showdown with Seattle after reinjuring his right hamstring in the fourth quarter of Los Angeles’ 41-34 victory over Detr...

DECEMBER 15, 2025 • Associated Press

McVay's illness didn't slow down the Rams. They got a healthy victory before bigger tests arrive

Sean McVay fell ill last Friday night, and he was forced to miss parts of the Los Angeles Rams’ final preparations while he traveled to Arizona separately from the team

DECEMBER 8, 2025 • Associated Press

Limited usage in blowout win Smith secured his only target for six yards and returned three punts for 46 yards during Sunday's 45-17 victory against the Cardinals.

Impact A week removed from a career-high 82 yard performance against the Panthers, Smith regressed back to his typical stat line against the Cardinals. Smith took the field for just 21 snaps on offense, which was still a fair amount more than fellow backup Jordan Whittington's 12. Konata Mumpfield did get an extended look with 32 snaps on offense, but none of the trio of backups managed to earn more than a single target and combined for just 16 yards receiving, leaving them difficult to trust in fantasy playoff lineups with a high-stakes showdown against the Lions up next in Week 15.

DECEMBER 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Sean McVay talks about the Rams' run game success; Xavier Smith & Kamren Kinchens on moving forward after a loss Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks about running backs Blake Corum and Kyren Williams' successful rushes against the Carolina Pant...

DECEMBER 2, 2025 • THERAMS.COM

Feature: Opportunity to contribute on offense in Week 13 at Panthers 'meant a lot' to Xavier Smith Primarily the Rams' punt returner this season, wide receiver Xavier Smith made an impact on offense in the Rams' Week 13 loss to the Panther...

DECEMBER 1, 2025 • THERAMS.COM

Career-best effort in Carolina Smith caught all three of his targets for 82 yards in Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Panthers.

Impact The second-year wideout missed last week's game due to a concussion, but he returned to action with a bang, setting career highs in catches and yardage while leading the Rams in receiving yards. Most of the real estate was gained on a 51-yard connection with Matthew Stafford that helped set up a Blake Corum TD right before halftime. Smith's biggest impact this season prior to Sunday had come as a kick returner -- he has 274 kickoff return yards and 142 punt return yards through his first 10 games -- but he's making a case to move past Jordan Whittington into the No. 3 spot on the WR depth chart heading into a Week 14 tilt against the Cardinals.

NOVEMBER 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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Rams are still stunned, saddened after a standout season ended just short of another Super Bowl

4 NFL Title Games Takeaways: How the Patriots, Seahawks Earned Super Bowl Berths

Rams' McVay and Stafford lament missed opportunities as they fall short of Super Bowl

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold 'Shut A Lot of People Up Tonight'

Sam Darnold and Seahawks advance to Super Bowl with thrilling 31-27 win over Rams in NFC title game

Rams face questions about their mentality after dismaying loss to Atlanta extends their late slump

Rams' faith in their receiver depth to be tested if Adams misses short-week showdown with Seahawks

Rams WR Davante Adams might not be ready for Seahawks showdown after reinjuring hamstring vs Lions

McVay's illness didn't slow down the Rams. They got a healthy victory before bigger tests arrive