HEADLINES

Cam Akers

McVay: Rams Likely To Move Cam Akers

October 17th, 2022 at 4:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams’ Cam Akers drama escalated quickly, and the team is preparing to end it with a separation. The defending Super Bowl champions are exploring a move that will give the third-year running back a fresh start elsewhere, Sean McVay said Monday.

An unspecified issue emerged between Akers and the Rams late last week, leading to the team’s starting running back being a healthy scratch in Week 6. Akers, 23, is believed to have a football-related issue with the Rams, and McVay said (via ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop, on Twitter).there will “probably” be a transaction made that allows Akers to land with another team soon.

That said, McVay stopped short of guaranteeing the former second-round pick will depart, Eric Williams of Fox Sports notes (via Twitter). But the team is already engaging in exploratory conversations about dealing Akers.

The Florida State product missed two practices late last week for personal reasons, per the Rams, and it later came out on-field matters have divided these parties. Akers’ rookie contract runs through 2023. Philosophical differences are believed to have split McVay and Akers, who has not returned to his pre-Achilles-tear form. The Rams asked Akers not to show for practice Thursday and Friday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes.

Akers suffered the tear early during Los Angeles’ 2021 training camp and made a quicker-than-expected comeback, allowing for postseason contributions. Those contributions proved minimal, however, and Akers (3.0 yards per carry, albeit behind a battered Rams offensive line) has not shown much during his third season. This obviously stands to dent his trade value, though Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link) trade interest has surfaced already.

As a rookie, however, Akers amassed 625 yards on 143 carries. He then logged 28 totes for 131 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ wild-card win over the Seahawks. Akers was tracking to be L.A.’s starter to open last season, but his injury prompted the Rams to go with Darrell Henderson and trade acquisition Sony Michel. Akers’ return late last year preceded the Rams letting Michel walk in free agency. Henderson, who is in a contract year, will reside as the team’s top back. Akers still started ahead of the former third-round pick for most of this season, and this strange halt to his Rams career certainly proves interesting.

Rams’ Cam Akers To Miss Week 6, Could Be Traded

October 16th, 2022 at 7:41am CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 16: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Akers may have already played his last down for the Rams. Per Rapoport, Akers and McVay have “philosophical and football-related differences,” and while the two men have remained cordial, LA is expected to field trade calls on the 2020 second-rounder. Despite his inability to return to the level of performance he enjoyed as a rookie, Akers — who appears concerned about his role and his place in the club’s RB hierarchy — is expected to garner significant trade interest.

OCTOBER 14: The Rams will not have Cam Akers in their lineup Sunday. Sean McVay confirmed the third-year running back will miss the team’s Panthers matchup due to personal reasons.

Akers missed the Rams’ Thursday practice due to a personal matter; he will not practice Friday. McVay said the parties are “working through some things.” This is a sudden development for the defending Super Bowl champions, who saw Akers make a fairly quick recovery from summer Achilles surgery to play during the playoffs last season.

McVay confirmed this is not a performance- or injury-related matter, and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes the sixth-year HC was noncommittal regarding Akers’ status with the team going forward. This does appear to be a football-related matter, as CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets. Akers is under contract through 2023. It would certainly be a surprising development to see a transaction made here, but the Rams’ backfield will undergo a change this week.

McVay limited Akers’ Week 1 workload and challenge him to show more urgency after that game. But the Rams have used Akers as their primary ball-carrier in recent weeks. He has led the team in carries in each of the past four games, relegating Darrell Henderson to a lesser role than he played in the season opener.

Henderson, who is in a contract year, will step back into the starting role Sunday. A 2019 third-round pick, Henderson has been slightly more effective for the Rams this season, though the team’s battered offensive line has hindered the run game. Henderson is averaging 4.1 yards per carry.

Although Akers has been the team’s preferred ball-carrying option since breaking through late in his 2020 rookie season, he has not recaptured his pre-Achilles-tear form. Akers averaged 4.3 yards per carry in 2020 and amassed 221 rushing yards during the team’s two playoff games that year. Last season, however, the Florida State product was ineffective upon his unexpectedly quick return from injury. Akers averaged just 2.6 yards in Los Angeles’ four postseason games and is at 3.0 (51 carries, 151 yards) in five games this season.

The Rams have Henderson and the recently reacquired Malcolm Brown on their active roster. Rookie Kyren Williams is eligible to return from IR, but he has not yet returned to practice. The team hoped to re-sign Jake Funk to its practice squad, but he instead ended up on New Orleans’ P-squad. Rookie UDFA Ronnie Rivers is the only back on L.A.’s taxi squad; the Fresno State product would be in position to be elevated for Week 6.

Injury Updates: 49ers, Rams, Browns, Bears

August 16th, 2022 at 3:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers have been dealing with a number of minor injuries in training camp lately, but one which is significant not only in its serenity but also its impact on the team is the one currently ailing free safety Jimmie Ward. He has suffered a hamstring injury, and his Week 1 availability is now in question, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner (Twitter link).

Ward has been a starter on the backend in San Francisco since his second season in 2015. He has been a consistent contributor throughout that time, including on the NFC-winning squad of 2019. His level of play that year earned him a three-year extension, giving him financial security for the first time in his career.

Ward is in line to start once again in 2022, the final season of that deal. He and 2021 fifth-rounder Talanoa Hufanga are the top safety options on the depth chart, so any extended absence from Ward would be a major blow to a 49ers team looking to repeat last season’s playoff run, and whose weakness on defense is generally viewed as being in the secondary. Tarvarius Moore and George Odum would be amongst the team’s options to fill in for Ward should he miss any time.

Here are some other injury notes from around the league, starting with another NFC West contender:

  • The Rams are facing some uncertainty in their offensive backfield. Head coach Sean McVay announced that running backs Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson are both dealing with “soft-tissue” injuries (Twitter link via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop). The pair are in line to occupy the top two spots on the depth chart, though injuries are nothing new to either player. McVay added that neither of them will return to practice until they have fully recovered, but didn’t provide a timeline regarding when that may take place.
  • The center position has become a sore spot for the Browns recently, given the season-ending injury to Nick Harris, who was the favorite to take over the starting role. The team’s depth at the pivot is being tested even further, as seventh-round rookie Dawson Deaton suffered a torn ACL, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). With him sidelined for the season as well, Cleveland is down to free agent signing Ethan Pocic and UDFA Brock Hoffman as their only remaining healthy options. Pocic has starting experience, but another addition would come as little surprise at this point.
  • Another team dealing with center injuries is the Bears. Sixth-round rookie Doug Kramer is believed to have suffered a Lisfranc injury, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). In that case, his 2022 availability will be seriously in doubt, something which would be especially problematic if starter Lucas Patrick isn’t recovered from the hand surgery he had recently in time for the start of the regular season.

Latest On Cam Akers, Rams Offense

July 14th, 2022 at 8:47pm CST by Ben Levine

Cam Akers was clearly limited when he returned from a full Achilles tear to join the Rams for their Super Bowl run. Following a rookie campaign where he collected 748 yards from scrimmage on 156 touches (4.8 yards per touch), Akers was limited to 248 yards from scrimmage on 75 postseason touches (3.3 yards per touch). Fortunately, the running back told Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic that he’s 100 percent healthy heading into training camp, and he’s focused on maintaining his health throughout the upcoming season.

“(I’m) focusing on building my armor up as strong as it can be, but really locking in on the mental side, as well,” Akers said during spring practices.

New Rams running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples might not necessarily have the luxury of easing Akers back into action. As Rodrigue writes, fellow RB Darrell Henderson is recovering from his own surgery and has missed games in each of his three NFL seasons. Plus, rookie fifth-round RB Kyren Williams suffered a foot injury during OTAs that required surgery and could miss a chunk of training camp. Otherwise, the team will be relying on inexperienced options like Jake Funk, Raymond Calais, and Xavier Jones.

Elsewhere on offense, we may see the Rams sign another QB for the preseason. Rodrigue cites sources who believed the Rams would add a UDFA to serve as a fourth quarterback for training camp. The organization still hasn’t added anyone to the trio of Matthew Stafford, John Wolford, and Bryce Perkins, and Rodrigue opines that the grouping is probably locked in. As a result, the Rams can’t offer much to a free agent QB besides some preseason opportunities, but they’ll likely find someone to fill that role before the start of camp.

Finally, the Rams offensive line will see some changes next season, and that includes right guard after Austin Corbett left for Carolina. To replace the former RG, the coaching staff will have three players compete for the open starting gig, per Rodrigue: Logan Bruss, Coleman Shelton, and Tremayne Anchrum.

Rams’ Cam Akers To Return In Week 18

January 6th, 2022 at 7:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cam Akers‘ quick recovery from his July Achilles tear will lead to regular-season action. The recently recovered Rams running back will, barring a setback between now and Sunday, make his season debut in Week 18.

Sean McVay said the second-year back, who suffered a torn Achilles on July 20, looked good in practice and will play against the 49ers, via ESPN.com’s Lindsey Thiry. McVay indicated a partial workload will likely be the team’s course of action. Regardless, this represents a bonus for a Rams team ahead of a high-stakes regular-season finale.

The Rams placed Darrell Henderson on IR last month after an MCL sprain. He cannot return until the divisional round, should the Rams’ season reach that point. Picked up via trade not long after Akers’ injury, Sony Michel remains Los Angeles’ starter. But Akers is set to mix in.

At 12-4, the Rams hold the NFC’s No. 2 seed. They can remain there by beating the 49ers on Sunday. The Rams have not beaten their California rivals since Week 17 of the 2018 season. Akers would stand to help the cause.

A 2020 second-round pick, Akers finished last season as Los Angeles’ starter. He notched a 171-yard rushing game against the Patriots and tallied 131 yards on the ground in L.A.’s playoff win in Seattle. He will now follow the likes of Terrell Suggs and Michael Crabtree, who returned from offseason Achilles tears in 2012 and 2013, respectively, to contribute on playoff-bound teams.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/25-12/26/21

December 26th, 2021 at 11:02pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the NFL moves from Christmas and today:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team

Rams Activate Cam Akers

December 26th, 2021 at 9:49am CST by Zachary Links

The Rams have officially activated running back Cam Akers, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Akers, who tore his Achilles tendon just five months ago, might not be able to play over the next few weeks, but the move will allow him to accumulate pension credit for the season (Twitter link). 

Even if Akers doesn’t get into the Rams’ upcoming games against the Vikings, Ravens, and 49ers, it’s an encouraging sign for his postseason availability. Once thought to be done for the season, Akers will be able to slot somewhere behind Darrell Henderson in January.

“If you watched him do stuff with the performance staff (Thursday), you would think he could carry the ball 40 times on Sunday,” GM Les Snead said (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). “The plan is to implement him back into practice settings and make sure he can make football moves, rather than just observing. And from there, it’s how that Achilles recovers. We’ll be smart about it.”

Akers served as the Rams’ primary back down the stretch of last season and he started in both their postseason games. His first late-season start, against the Patriots, saw 171 rushing yards and nearly 200 all-purpose yards. Then, in the Wild Card win against the Seahawks, he managed 131 yards on the ground.

The Rams have little reason to rush Akers on to the field today, but he’ll be cheering his teammates on as they look to hold the top spot in the NFC West.

Rams Designate RB Cam Akers For Return

December 23rd, 2021 at 1:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams made an interesting transaction Thursday, putting the wheels in motion for a potential Cam Akers return. Akers, who suffered an Achilles tear in July, is now on the Rams’ designated-to-return list.

Akers has spent the past five months on IR, but Sean McVay said in late October the second-year back had a chance to come back if the Rams made the playoffs. With the team once again on track for the postseason, Akers may be in that equation.

Akers must be activated 21 days from today, or he will revert to season-ending IR. He would need to be moved to the active roster before a Rams wild-card game.

Late-season returns from offseason Achilles tears have happened in the not-so-distant past. Terrell Suggs came back in late October of the 2012 season, after sustaining a tear in early May. Michael Crabtree was out a bit longer in 2013, going down in late May before returning to the 49ers in early December of that season. The Rams are keeping the door open to Akers making a late return.

Los Angeles used Akers as its primary back down the stretch last season. He started both of L.A.’s postseason games as a rookie, rushing for 131 yards in a wild-card win against the Seahawks. The Florida State product also delivered a 171-yard effort in his first start, against the Patriots, late in that regular season. He would be an interesting weapon for the Rams, who added Sony Michel via trade after Akers went down this summer.

The Rams have used Darrell Henderson as their primary back this year, though he has run into injury and COVID-19 issues. Henderson returned Tuesday, but the Rams kept Michel as their lead back. Michel carried 18 times to Henderson’s six in the Rams’ win in Seattle.

Torn Achilles For Rams’ Cam Akers

July 20th, 2021 at 11:06am CST by Zachary Links

Rams running back Cam Akers has suffered a torn Achilles (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). The injury will likely rule him out for the entire 2021 season.

Akers was the Rams’ leading rusher last year, notching 625 yards and two scores on 145 carries. He also caught eleven passes for 123 yards and one TD. Now, Darrell Henderson stands as the Rams’ top RB with support backs like Xavier Jones, Raymond Calais, Day 3 pick Jake Funk, and UDFA Otis Anderson also in the mix.

For what it’s worth, Akers outrushed Henderson by just a single yard in 2020. Henderson finished with 624 yards on the ground and five TDs off of 138 carries. The veteran also caught 16 passes for 159 yards and a score — a virtually identical stat line to Akers’. Still, the Rams were counting on having both players in the lineup and Henderson has injury history of his own.

It’s a bad blow for the Rams, who may seek veteran support in the backfield. Old friend Todd Gurley is still available, but it’s hard to imagine a return to L.A. under head coach Sean McVay. Other stars still on the market include Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell, Frank Gore, and LeSean McCoy.

Dolphins Eyeing RBs In NFL Draft

April 12th, 2020 at 4:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins’ recent track record on early-round running backs leaves much to be desired. Since 2000, the Dolphins have selected just two running backs in the first two rounds. Neither one panned out – they picked Ronnie Brown in 2005 when Aaron Rodgers was still available and went with Daniel Thomas over DeMarco Murray in 2011. This year, the Dolphins may look to buck the trend. 

[RELATED: Dolphins Favoring Herbert Over Tua?]

The Dolphins are likely to select a running back in the first two days of the draft, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. That may include their No. 26 pick towards the back of the first round or the No. 56 pick in the second.

One team official has been telling people that Georgia’s D’Andre Swift is high on their list. And, per a source who spoke with Jackson, he was set to visit in Miami before the league put the kibosh on travel. Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins left his visit (pre-kibosh) feeling like the Dolphins were infatuated with him. There’s also Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, who went to dinner with RB coach Eric Studesville. Plus, they’ve been in contact with FSU’s Cam Akers. Dobbins and Swift could be in the mix at No. 26, Jackson hears, while Taylor, Akers, and LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire seem to be candidates at No. 56.

If the Dolphins want Swift or Dobbins, they’ll probably have to pounce on them in the first round. Swift has been on the NFL radar since his freshman season, when he averaged 7.6 yards per carry. The noise around him is still substantial after he ran for 1,218 yards and seven touchdowns. Dobbins, meanwhile, is coming off of a 2,000-yard campaign, his third straight season past the century mark.