Cam Akers - Pro Football Rumors

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

Promoted: DE Josh Mauro, DB Kevin Peterson, P Ryan Winslow, WR Greg Dortch

Atlanta Falcons

Activated from IR: LB Daren Bates
Promoted: WR Marvin Hall

Baltimore Ravens

Activated from IR: LB Daelin Hayes
Promoted: QB Kenji Bahar, DB Robert Jackson, DB Tony Jefferson, T Jaryd Jones-Smith, NT Isaiah Mack, G/DT Reginald McKenzie, TE Tony Poljan, DB Jordan Richards, LB Joe Thomas, DB Daryl Worley

Buffalo Bills

Promoted: DT Eli Ankou

Carolina Panthers

Activated from IR: QB Sam Darnold
Promoted: RB Reggie Bonnafon, DB Madre Harper, DT Frank Herron, G Mike Horton, TE Stephen Sullivan

Chicago Bears

Activated from IR: DB Duke Shelley
Promoted: DE Ledarius Mack, WR Dazz Newsome, DB Dee Virgin, WR Nsimba Webster, QB Ryan Willis

Cincinnati Bengals

Promoted: LB Austin Calitro, DT Mike Daniels, DE Noah Spence, WR Trent Taylor

Dallas Cowboys

Activated from IR: DB Maurice Canady, DB Donovan Wilson
Promoted: DB Kyron Brown, DB Darian Thompson

Denver Broncos

Promoted: T Quinn Bailey

Detroit Lions

Promoted: LB Tavante Beckett, LB Curtis Bolton, TE Shane Zylstra
Placed on IR: DB Amani Oruwariye

Green Bay Packers

Promoted: S Innis Gaines

Houston Texans

Extended: DE Ron’Dell Carter
Activated from IR: WR Danny Amendola, DE DeMarcus Walker
Promoted: WR Jalen Camp, DT Michael Dwumfour, K Dominik Eberle, G Jake Eldrenkamp, T Carson Green, DE Demone Harris, TE Paul Quessenberry, RB Jaylen Samuels, T Jordan Steckler, LB Connor Strachan, LB Josh Watson, S T.J. Green

Indianapolis Colts

Promoted: DB Anthony Chesley, WR Keke Coutee, G Carter O’Donnell, DB Brian Poole, DB Will Redmond, DT Chris Williams

Jacksonville Jaguars

Promoted: RB Nathan Cottrell, WR Josh Hammond, DB Brandon Rusnak

Kansas City Chiefs

Promoted: DB Dicaprio Bootle, TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart, DB Josh Jackson, P Johnny Townsend

Las Vegas Raiders

Activated from IR: DB Tyree Gillespie
Promoted: G Lester Cotton, DB Kavon Frazier, WR Tyron Johnson, NT Damion Square, QB Nathan Peterman, WR Dillon Stoner
Placed on IR: DB Johnathan Abram

Los Angeles Chargers

Promoted: WR Michael Bandy, RB Darius Bradwell, NT Andrew Brown, DB Ben Deluca, LB Emeke Egbule, WR Maurice Ffrench, DT Forrest Merrill, WR Jason Moore
Placed on IR: TE Donald Parham

Los Angeles Rams

Activated from reserve/NFI: RB Cam Akers
Activated from IR: RB Buddy Howell
Promoted: DB Grant Haley, WR Brandon Powell
Released: LB Jamir Jones, RB Mekhi Sargent

New England Patriots

Activated from IR: LB Josh Uche
Promoted: DT Daniel Ekuale, DB D’Angelo Ross, WR Kristian Wilkerson

New York Giants

Promoted: DB Darqueze Dennard, DL David Moa, CB Aaron Robinson, WR David Sill V, OL Isaiah Wilson

New York Jets

Promoted: OL Isaiah Williams, TE Dan Brown, WR D.J. Montgomery, LB LaRoy Reynolds, DL Ronald Blair, S Elijah Benton, DL Freedom Akinmoladun

Philadelphia Eagles

Promoted: S Jared Mayden

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed: P Corliss Waitman
Activated from IR: C J.C. Hassenauer
Promoted: P Cameron Nizialek, OL Rashaad Coward, RB Trey Edmunds, LB John Simon

Seattle Seahawks

Promoted: DT Myles Adams, S Josh Jones, TE Tyler Mabry, OLB Edmond Robinson, WR Cody Thompson

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Promoted: RB Kenjon Barner, WR Cyril Grayson, P Sterling Hofrichter, DL Benning Potoa’e

Washington Football Team

Promoted: CB D.J. Hayden, RB Wendell Smallwood, LB De’Jon Harris, DB Jeremy Reaves

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.

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.