Rams turn punt returns over to Bachman after waiving Xavier Smith

The Rams waived receiver and punt returner Xavier Smith on Friday and named Alex Bachman to take over punt returns for Sunday's trip to Philadelphia. Coach Sean McVay confirmed Bachman's assignment in the team's report on the move. The club then signed Bachman and defensive end Larrell Murchison from the practice squad to the active roster and placed tight end Terrance Ferguson on injured reserve. The official roster announcement confirms those transactions separately from the return-job decision.

Los Angeles' account of the decision points back to a costly fielding choice in last Sunday's loss at Denver. Smith took a punt near his own goal line and returned it 10 yards early in the third quarter. The Rams then went three-and-out, and Denver's return of the next punt gave the Broncos the ball at the Los Angeles 42.

The Rams noted that their recent special-teams mistakes involved more than Smith. Still, Friday's roster move changes the return role a day after coordinator Bubba Ventrone said he had not considered replacing him.

Smith averaged 9.4 yards across 50 punt returns in 34 games for Los Angeles, according to the team. His longest return this season was 19 yards. The waiver ends his current place on the active roster; it does not establish his next destination.

Bachman will return punts against the Eagles, McVay said. Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday that the change comes after Smith made several decision-making errors against Denver. Los Angeles hired special-teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone during the offseason, and Sunday's game supplies another test of that unit against Philadelphia.

McVay also identified Kyren Williams as an option in the team's Friday report, while explaining the preference to avoid adding that assignment to its starting running back. Naming Bachman settles the immediate return-job question. It does not promise a larger receiving role.