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AlbaNY_Ram
An NFL team can only recall 8 players from IR and last year the Rams already had recalled 7 guys when Reeder was eligible to come off IR.

John Johnson was also eligible to come off IR the same time Reeder was. But the Rams held off on activating either of them, waiting to see if the injury bug hit ILB or DB before they used their final recall.

This year the Rams have only activated 1 guy from IR so they aren't bumping up against that 8 player limit that kept Reeder on IR.

This article addresses Atwell's situation in some detail [theramswire.usatoday.com], but basically the Rams are pretty deep at WR on the 53 man roster with 5 guys there already and the Rams would have to cut someone to add Atwell. Apparently they don't feel the need to do that right now.

From that article, these are some of the mitigating factors:

Xavier Smith had three catches for 82 yards in Sunday’s game alone, while Jordan Whittington offers much more as a blocker and return specialist. Konata Mumpfield, the Rams’ fifth receiver, plays special teams, as well.

Atwell, on the other hand, does not. And his lack of a role on special teams is clearly impacting his chances of getting on the field as one of the Rams’ 48 active players.

Atwell might not be activated again this year, but comparing his situation to Reeder's is apples and oranges.