After his tenure with the Rams seemed to be over in 2022, Cam Akers could find himself on the move soon. The running back will be a healthy scratch in Week 2, as first reported by Jay Glazer during Fox Sports’ pregame show. 
Glazer adds that the Rams are looking to trade the 24-year-old. Akers expressed his confusion regarding the situation on social media, but it appears as though his career could take him out of Los Angeles in the near future. He is thus in a similar circumstance to the one he found himself in last year.
The Rams deactivated Akers in Week 6 last year, and head coach Sean McVay confirmed not long after that the team was seeking a trade partner. That seemed to mark an end to his time in Los Angeles, with issues related to his role and communication with the coaching staff being cited as the cause for the apparent split between team and player. In the end, though, the Rams turned down trade offers in advance of the deadline.
That left the former second-rounder in place ahead of the final year of his rookie contract. Fully recovered from his 2021 Achilles tear, Akers was in line to serve in a notable early-down role to start the 2023 campaign. He handled 22 carries in Week 1, though he managed to turn those opportunities into just 29 rushing yards. For today at least, the Rams will likely to turn to 2022 fifth-rounder Kyren Williams as their lead back.
With Akers set to hit free agency at the end of the season, it is doubtful the Rams would be able to land any signficant draft capital in the event they were to deal the Florida State product. Nevertheless, a parting of ways could be in the best interests of all parties involved in this situation. Akers’ status moving forward will remain worth watching closely as the Rams prepare to take on the 49ers later today.
They really messing with this guy. Trade or keep him, L.A. This continuous cycle of not wanting Akers and then seeing if someone will take him and then using him when you need him is not constructive and frankly unfair to the player. If that does not matter to you, perhaps consider the effect it has on his play for your organization. If he is really that bad, cut him. If not, use him.
I’m of the mind that I don’t care much if it’s unfair to a player to get paid to not play. Why do people feel he is owed playing time?
Even if he has a negative effect on the team how does cutting him and having to pay him while he signs elsewhere send a positive message? Act like a spoiled child and you can still get your way?
I didn’t say, nor do I think, that a player is “owed” playing time. However, it does seem both counterproductive and dishonorable to me personally to jerk a person around, employee or not. I don’t feel comfortable asking someone to work or risk for me if I also make it abundantly clear that I don’t want him/her. If you disagree, fine, but the less opinion oriented side of this is that Akers’ motivation will surely be affected. If the Rams are continuing to use him, or bring him in to bail them out as they did last year, how much can they realistically expect from a player that they’ve told is obviously unwanted? Realistically, you must expect less than 100%. Rightfully or wrongfully, that’s just what’s going to happen when an employee does not feel that he/she has solid job security.
Moreover, other players see that and they are much less forgiving of the team’s perspective than we are on the outside. It’s best to just make a decision about keeping Akers, because this has dragged on for some time (over a season) and the team seems to waft back and forth on the issue.
Its very poor asset management at the least.
A conditional 7th round pick in 2025 is a maybe for Akers. The problem is that they really need a RB & have to pay him. I think just not having to eat all the money and getting him anywhere else is the only solution at this point.
The NFL has solidified it’s reputation as a “what have you done for us lately?” league so I think the games the Rams are playing with Akers are totally consistent with that philosophy.
Chargers
Dolphins
Ravens
Vikings
Cowboys
Could all call asking about Akers at the right price
Fins ran all over NE yesterday. 180 some years right?
Giants
Montgomery just went down for the lions ….