It's not even training camp, and 1 FA completes the set for Rams Chase Blackburn

When the Los Angeles Rams hired Chase Blackburn to become the new ST Coordinator, the team had allowed every special team specialist's contract to expire. So, Coach Blackburn was not simply arriving to coach up players, but was the architect of restocking the Rams roster with new special team specialists. And in 2023, he was afforded just one draft pick to do so. He opted to spend that currency on Wingate rookie punter prospect Ethan Evans

But the team needed more positions filled. To address those roles, he aimed the Rams' front office at UCF long snapper Alex Ward. And finally, to meet the other two roster spots, he authored competition on the Rams roster. For placekicking, he trialed undrafted rookies Tanner Brown and Christopher Dunn. For the return specialist, the team trialed WR Austin Trammel, WR Demarcus Robinson, and even RB Kyren Williams. Trammel won the return job. The Rams had to sign veteran kickers Brett Maher and Lucas Havrisik

In 2024, Blackburn was afforded another draft pick. This time, he chose Stanford kicker Joshua Karty for the Rams. But the team allowed open competition for the return specialist role. This time, the team allowed WR Jordan Whittington, RB Blake Corum, WR Xavier Smith, and even RB Kyren Williams to dabble as a return specialist.

Still, the Rams' special teams, a unit that had found its punter, kicker, and long snapper, needed a more permanent solution. Have they found a full-time return specialist? So far, signs point to yes.

Britain Covey completes the set

The Rams signed former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Britain Covey in the offseason, and for good reasons that we will discuss momentarily. But for starters, he is a 28-year-old veteran who has competed three seasons for the Eagles. He stands 5-foot-8, weighs 173 pounds, and can dash 40 yards in just 4.43 seconds. Not lightning fast, but swift enough.

While he has caught 11 of just 14 passes thrown his way for 76 yards and just four first downs, Covey brings a different type of expertise to the Rams. You see, he is the Alpha of return specialists, and is just what ST Coordinator Chase Blackburn needs to complete the set.

Britain Covey was a return specialist for the Philadelphia Eagles in both 2022 and 2023. He was injured in 2024, limiting his availability, which served to convince the Eagles to move on from him in 2025. Their loss is the Rams' gain. Over his NFL career, Covey returned 68 punts for 771 yards and 11 kickoffs for 236 yards. In 2023, he returned 29 punts for 417 yards.

Just to place this into context. In 2023, the entire Rams team returned 28 punts for 204 yards. In 2024, the Rams team returned 18 punts for 161 yards. That adds up to 46 punts returned for 365 yards. In other words, Covey did more in punt return yards in one season than the entire Rams special teams could muster over two seasons.

See why he completes the set?

Covey doesn't just catch a punt or kickoff. He attacks it as though it were a forward pass, even to the point that he catches it on a dead run. While other return specialists can allow seconds to lapse just in securing the football, Covey has already gained 10 yards and is racing to put up even more yards.

Best of all, other players and coaches love him. It's that locker room presence that will get him noticed by teammates and coaches.

Will Covey make the 53-man Rams roster? It's almost a certainty. He has utility in the offense as a backup receiver. But there is no competition to what he can do on special teams. If the Rams want to win in 2025, he's their guy. If the Rams want explosive plays out of the return unit, he's their guy. If the Rams want to win in 2025, he's their guy.

It's not even training camp, and this one free agent signing completes the set for Rams ST Coordinator Chase Blackburn. As we all know, special teams can play a huge role in winning games.

And as always, thanks for reading.