Tutu Atwells 88-yard touchdown catch lifts Rams

Tutu Atwell was the forgotten man.

After signing a one-year, $10-million contract, the Rams diminutive receiver appeared to be nearly ignored while taking part in in the shadow of stars Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

Atwell went into Sunday’s sport against the Indianapolis Colts with only one goal in each of the first three video games.

He obtained only two targets against the Colts.

But the speedy Atwell made one depend.

With less than two minutes left, he broke free, caught a midrange go from Matthew Stafford and turned it into an 88-yard touchdown that gave the Rams a 27-20 victory before 71,257 at SoFi Stadium.

As he has executed throughout his four-plus seasons with the Rams, Atwell stayed even keeled amid a locker room full of coaches and teammates elated for him.

“Just waiting for my number to be called,” Atwell said.

Stafford also tossed touchdown passes to Nacua and Adams, and Kam Curl intercepted two passes as the Rams improved their document to 3-1 after rebounding from their heart-wrenching defeat to the defending Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles.

So, not a dangerous start.

The Rams are far from good, or even constantly dominant in any section.

But almost a quarter of the best way into the season, they seem like the Super Bowl contender they have been constructed to be.

The Rams don’t have a lot time to marinate in the victory: the rival San Francisco 49ers (3-1) are coming to city Thursday evening.

But coach Sean McVay and his gamers ought to be feeling assured, if not overly so.

For the second sport in a row, Stafford missed on some passes he sometimes completes. But he was excellent during a trademark two-minute drill that ended with a touchdown go to Adams at the end of the first half, during a fourth-quarter drive that Nacua completed with a fourth-down touchdown catch and on his good throw to a wide-open Atwell.

Nacua caught 13 passes for 170 yards, and turned only the third participant in NFL historical past to have at least eight catches in each of the first 4 video games.

Per week after neutralizing Eagles star Saquon Barkley, the Rams restricted Jonathan Taylor, the NFL’s main rusher, to 76 yards speeding in 17 carries.

Rams huge receiver Puka Nacua celebrates after scoring a touchdown to tie the rating in the fourth quarter against the Colts.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

They also pressured quarterback Daniel Jones into his first turnovers of the season.

After having two consecutive field-goal makes an attempt blocked by the Eagles — including a potential winner that the Eagles returned for a touchdown — Joshua Karty kicked two area targets against the Colts.

But Atwell’s big play was the story of the sport.

“You just never know when your number’s going to be called,” McVay said, “and he’s just kind of stayed ready. And that’s a tremendous credit to his mental toughness and to his resilience.”

It was the sort of play basic supervisor Les Snead envisioned when the Rams surprisingly chosen Atwell in the second spherical of the 2021 draft out of Louisville.

But Atwell’s alternatives have been restricted. McVay has said that he meant to get Atwell more concerned.

Atwell’s rookie season ended because of a shoulder injury. The next three seasons, he was half of a receivers corps that included Cooper Kupp and then Nacua.

Rams coach Sean McVay celebrates with huge receiver Tutu Atwell after his 88-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter against the Colts.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

During the offseason, with more profitable free-agent gives ostensibly on the desk, Atwell agreed to stay with the Rams, presumably with assurances from McVay that he would grow to be more concerned in the offense.

And then the Rams signed Adams, a three-time All-Pro.

Throughout it all, Atwell never complained.

“I had a lot of good receivers in front of me, a lot of great receivers,” Atwell said. “And it’s all about waiting your turn.

“So that’s what I do. Stay patient and when the time comes, you’re ready for it.”

When Atwell delivered on Sunday, Rams gamers went loopy.

“I almost cried, to be honest with you,” Adams said. “Just being on the sideline you could just feel the emotion.”

Like Atwell, security Kam Kinchens hails from Florida. The two are so close, Atwell videobombed Kinchen’s introductory video call with reporters after the Rams chosen Kinchens in 2024.

“Everybody knows how bad he needed it and wanted it,” Kinchens said of Atwell capitalizing on Sunday’s alternative. “I was happy for him — it felt like I scored a touchdown! Like a ton had been lifted off his back.”

It was only a matter of time until Atwell made that type of play, said edge rusher Jared Verse, who had a sack and pressured a fumble.

“And I know Tutu,” Verse said, “Once he gone, he gone! There’s not really anybody in the league that’s catching him. … You might be able to catch him if you’re an Olympic sprinter or something. But besides that, you’re not catching Tu.”

Nacua is aware of one thing about catching successful touchdown passes against the Colts. In 2023, he did it in extra time at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

So Nacua was thrilled to chase Atwell to the end zone, a place Atwell often reaches on performs during observe.

“We expect those from him,” Nacua said, “and it was good to see him get a big smile on his face after making a big play that we needed.”

The Rams led 13-10 at halftime, but they trailed 20-13 in the fourth quarter before Stafford completed an 83-yard drive with the touchdown go to Nacua that tied the rating with 3:20 left.

The Rams obtained the ball again with 1:44 left, setting the stage for Atwell’s big play.

Stafford said Atwell’s alternative got here as the quarterback went through his progressions.

“Just lets you know you gotta stay alive,” Stafford said of receivers. “Whenever your time comes to make a play.”

Rams huge receiver Tutu Atwell trots into the end zone forward of Colts defensive back Camryn Bynum on an 88-yard reception in the fourth quarter.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Atwell took all the emotion in stride.

“It felt great,” he said, including, “I’m happy, but you know it’s something I know that I’m capable of.

“It’s a great win and I appreciate the love. But it’s time to get back to work.”