Rams cut Xavier Smith amid struggles in return game - Rams Wire

The Los Angeles Rams are making a change in the return game. On Friday, the team announced it has waived Xavier Smith from the 53-man roster.

The move comes one day after special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone called Smith “inconsistent,” but said the Rams had a “lot of trust” in him as a returner. Ventrone did acknowledge that Smith needed to track and field the ball better, citing his struggles in the first three weeks.

Smith has been the Rams’ primary return specialist for the last three years but he’s had his share of struggles. He fielded a punt at the goal line on Sunday night, which set the Rams up deep against the Broncos and led to a quick three-and-out.

More notably, he muffed two punts in the NFC Championship Game last year, one of which was recovered by the Seahawks. The Rams brought Smith back as an exclusive rights free agent this offseason and made him their punt returner again for Week 1.

This season, Smith has seven punt returns for 69 yards, with a long of 19 yards. He has also returned seven kickoffs for 144 yards.