Los Angeles Rams RB Royce Freeman Earned No. 2 Role, Sean McVay Says
Over the past few weeks, the Los Angeles Rams have had to turn to other options at running back with Kyren Williams dealing with an ankle sprain.
At this time, though, a new running back has emerged as a viable option. Royce Freeman, who began the season on the practice squad, has had an impressive four-game stretch with 215 yards and a touchdown while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Freeman, who has bounced around the league before arriving in L.A., has helped keep the Rams' ground game somewhat afloat without their top running back.
Now that Williams is back, coach Sean McVay says that Freeman has done more than enough to keep himself as a notable part of the offense.
Freeman during a preseason game against the Denver Broncos, the team that drafted him.
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
“I think he's done a really good job and I think he's a good compliment to some of the things that Kyren brings to the table, physical presence... I thought last week you saw when we were able to get going offensively, he was able to churn out some tough physical yards," McVay told reporters Friday. "That's really kind of been on display for the most part since the Pittsburgh game. I think he has earned that. I think (Running Backs Coach) Ron Gould has done a great job with that group as a whole.”
In addition to his work on offense, Freeman has also been an important part of the Rams' special teams unit. He played close to half of special teams snaps early in the season, and even though his snap count has gone down since entering the offense, he's still a valuable contributor.
It's a big deal that he can also contribute in the kicking game," McVay said. "To be able to do some of the things that he's able to do for (Special Teams Coordinator) Chase (Blackburn) and for (Assistant Special Teams Coach) Jeremy Springer on special teams is a big deal."
In college, Freeman was nothing short of a phenom with the Oregon Ducks. He finished his college career with a school-record 5,621 yards and 60 rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. While Oregon has had several prolific rushers over the years, Freeman reigns over all of them from a statistical standpoint.
At the NFL level, though, Freeman hasn't made as much of an impact. He began his career with a pair of decent seasons with the Denver Broncos but has struggled to find his groove again after falling down the depth chart in 2020. Since leaving the Broncos after that same season, Freeman had brief stints with the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans before joining the Rams
For the first time in years, it seems Freeman has found a role that fits for him, which is a delight to both him and the Rams.
