Rams’ Cam Akers ready for contract year amid tumultuous RB market
NEWPORT BEACH — After navigating the grueling traffic Tuesday morning down to Orange County for the start of training camp, Rams running back Cam Akers is ready for what he hopes will be a productive season navigating NFL defenses.
Akers, 24, is entering the final year of his rookie deal. And the Rams’ lead back says he is conscious of the fact he is entering a pivotal contract season.
“Of course. I know what’s at stake here,” Akers said from the Rams’ team hotel ahead of Wednesday’s first practice of training camp. “But I’m here to play football, you know what I mean? That’s going to come, Lord willing, as long as I do my part. I’m just here to play football. That’ll come.”
Akers hasn’t had the smoothest NFL career since being drafted in the second round out of Florida State in 2020. He worked his way into a larger role throughout his rookie season, only to tear his Achilles in July 2021. He stunned most observers by returning to the field just five months later in time to be a part of the Rams’ championship run to Super Bowl LVI.
But last season, Akers was at odds with head coach Sean McVay about his role in the offense, believing he was capable of being a workhorse running back rather than operating in a committee. He had only three rushing attempts in Week 1, then was away from the team for three weeks ahead of the trade deadline as the Rams looked to move the back.
Soon after Akers returned to the team, backfield mate Darrell Henderson was released. McVay gave Akers his wish the final three weeks of the season, running the ball consistently through the third-year back, who delivered 345 yards and three touchdowns on 63 carries.
“I hope so,” Akers said when asked if he expected this approach to carry over into the 2023 season. “Lord willing, Lord willing, but if we’re basing it off of that, I don’t see why we wouldn’t. So I’ll be ready.”
Akers spent the offseason working to add “a lot” of weight to his 5-foot-10 frame in preparation for this campaign, as well as studying his own film from OTAs and those of his fellow backs to fine-tune his understanding of the Rams’ offense and his role in it, all with the hope of making this a career season.
“I can’t really pinpoint what I’m going for, I just know I’m trying to shoot for the stars, man,” Akers said. “I see and know what I can do. I know I deserve to be a star in this league, so this is the year. That’s how I feel, this is the year. So keep my head down, go to work, prove myself.”
Akers’ bid for a lucrative free-agent contract comes at a tumultuous time for the running back market.
The Giants’ Saquon Barkley, the Raiders’ Josh Jacobs and the Cowboys’ Tony Pollard were unable to reach long-term agreements with their respective franchises this offseason after being franchise-tagged before they could enter free agency. Their impasses are part of a growing trend of NFL teams showing hesitation about committing to lucrative contracts with running backs following their rookie deals.
Following the deadline for the three backs to reach multi-year agreements with their teams last week, the Chargers’ Austin Ekeler organized a Zoom call with prominent running backs to discuss their concerns about their market values in the NFL.
Akers was not a part of that call, but has naturally been closely following the situation.
“I wasn’t part of the group text yet. I guess I haven’t done enough yet,” he said. “If you ask me if I agree with what’s going on with running backs, no. I do think we are a value in the league. But our hands are kinda tied at this point. We just gotta keep playing football. Prove it, I guess.”
Briefly
McVay said Tuesday that he thinks tight end Hunter Long may end up on the physically unable to perform list to start training camp after tweaking his groin during offseason workouts.
Rookie offensive lineman Warren McClendon could also end up on the PUP list as he continues to recover from a knee injury.