By Stu Jackson|Rams Senior Staff Writer
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The excitement shown by the Rams sideline on wide receiver Xavier Smith’s electric 38-yard punt return against the 49ers was perhaps only superseded by Smith’s own feelings in the moment.
His mother, Angenetta Sanchious – the one who encouraged him to keep his football career going even when it seemed unlikely – had flown to Los Angeles to be in attendance for his first NFL game.
“(The experience) was amazing, because my mom, she was in the stands,” Smith told theRams.com. “That’s my first touch, that’s my first game, she got a chance to witness it. But man, as much as they gave me the credit, I thank those 10 guys in front of me who blocked for me, man, paved that way, gained that leverage. They did their one-eleventh, so felt like it was on me to do my one-eleventh after what they did.”
Smith’s 38-yard punt return – his first NFL touch of his career – sparked the Rams’ final push toward their 27-24 comeback win over the 49ers last week.
HIGHLIGHTS: Rams WR Xavier Smith’s 37-yard punt return goes to midfield against the 49ers
Rams head coach Sean McVay on Friday confirmed Smith will be returning punts and kickoffs this weekend, and at least be elevated from the practice squad for this Sunday’s game against the Bears.
“Fortunately or unfortunately, we’ve got some roster ability to be able to move some different things around with the injuries that we do have,” McVay said prior to Friday’s practice. “Whether or not he’s another flex from the practice squad or whether we actually put him on the active roster, those are just more mechanical things but he’ll be returning punts and kicks.”
Smith, in Episode 4 of this year’s “Behind The Grind” series, said there was a point in time when reaching the NFL wasn’t a goal of his anymore. Coming out of high school, he tried generating recruiting interest but was unsuccessful, so he settled on working for Amazon in 2016 before applying to his mother’s alma mater, Florida A&M, a year later at her encouragement, and walking on to Florida A&M’s football team.
