Akers’ status made clear: Rams will move on

INGLEWOOD, CA (News4usonline) – Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay was short and to the point regarding the status of running back Cam Akers. Akers, who was drafted by the Rams in 2020, appears to have fallen out of favor with the team. 

McVay addressed the situation surrounding Akers following the Rams’ 30-23 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 16, 2023.  

“Coaches decision. (I) felt like that was best for our football team,” McVay said.” I felt like Kyron [Williams] gave us the best opportunity and what Ronnie [ Rivers] and Royce [Freeman] have done… So that was a decision that I made.”

Well, on the day after making that declaration, McVay painted the picture clearer around Akers and his future. The Rams have moved on.

“Here’s what I would say. I think it boils down to we had some good conversations,” McVay said on a Zoom call with reporters. “I don’t want to get too granular with some of the conversations Cam and I have had but I feel very good about the clarity that was provided to both he and (Sports Agent) David Mulugheta in terms of why we’re at where we are. And then you don’t want to go back and forth on some of the things that have occurred, but based on some of the things that we feel like are best, it will be in the best interest to be able to give him an opportunity. And there’s some other teams that have expressed interest.”

Well, there you have it. Akers’ days as a member of the Rams are numbered. It sort of began with putting the running back on the inactive list on Sunday. After scoring a touchdown in Week 1 in a 30-13 win against the Seattle Seahawks, it was announced by the team that Akers would be listed as a player to go on the inactive list prior to the Rams playing the 49ers at home. 

McVay and the Rams are looking to move Akers via trade. If that scenario does not pan out, don’t expect Akers to be welcomed back.

“That won’t be an opportunity,” McVay remarked. “It’ll be an opportunity to be able to move…I feel good about the opportunity to be able to move him, but we won’t go back and forth on it.”

Williams, in his second year with the Rams, was elevated to the No. 1 running back position the evening before the Rams and the 49ers played the first of two NFC West Division football games the two teams will engage in this season. 

“They said you’re up,” Williams said. “That’s all I can take from what happened in the situation that’s going on, but I wish Cam nothing but the best. Me and Cam we were close his time here. I hope he goes somewhere and he excels and do what he does best because Cam is a great football player and he’s an even better person.”   

Akers was drafted by the Rams with high expectations following him. After a successful collegiate career at Florida State, Akers came to the Rams as being THAT guy in the offensive backfield. After rushing for 625 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season, it’s largely been hit-and-miss with Akers and his productivity. 

Missing most of the 2021 season because of a torn Achilles, Akers came back in 2022 with a productive season, rushing for 786 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games. Akers started nine of those 15 games, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. 

Against the Seahawks, Akers carried the ball 22 times for 29 yards. That equates to just 1.3 yards per carry. Williams, on the other hand,  was more productive, rushing for 52 yards on 15 carries.  

When asked if Akers would be with the team moving forward, McVay presented a wait-and-see approach.  

“I think there’s going to be an opportunity to see what that looks like moving forward, but it’s not going to be a back-and-forth thing,” McVay remarked. “He and I have had great dialogue and we’ll see what happens over the next couple days.”

This post has been updated from a previous version of the story.

Top Image Caption: Running back Cam Akers (3) in action running the football during a practice at the Los Angeles Rams training camp in July 2023. Photo by Dennis J. Freeman/News4usonline