49ers pregame at Rams: NFL’s top run defense won’t face Cam Akers
The 49ers' run defense won't contend today with Cam Akers, as the Rams deactivated their season-opening starter.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The 49ers’ league-leading run defense won’t be facing Rams season-opening starter Cam Akers today.
“I’m just as confused as everybody else,” Akers wrote on the “X” social-media platform after Fox’s Jay Glazer reported that Akers would be a healthy scratch and possibly be traded.
Akers ran for just 29 yards on 22 carries in the Rams’ 24-13 season-opening win at Seattle, and that included five carries that lost yardage and five others that went for no gain.
Kyren Williams was the Rams’ leading rusher last week, scored twice and gaining 52 yards (15 carries) as a second-year rusher from Notre Dame. Ronnie Rivers is their only other active running back; Zach Evans was inactivated, too.
A year ago, Akers reportedly requested a trade and missed two ensuing games. He only faced the 49ers three times the previous three seasons (100 yards, 22 carries, one touchdown).
The 49ers will counter with five linebackers in uniform: Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Oren Burks and, making his NFL debut, Dee Winters.
The 49ers allowed just 41 rushing yards in last week’s opening win at Pittsburgh, tying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the fewest allowed in Week 1. Last season, the 49ers allowed the fewest total yards in the NFL, and their run defense (77.7 yards per game) was second to the Titans (76.9 ypg.).
INACTIVE LISTS
Not suiting up for the 49ers are running back Ty Davis-Price guard Nick Zakelj, defensive tackle Kalia Davis, and linebacker Jalen Graham. Brandon Allen will dress as the emergency, No. 3 quarterback, as he did last week.
In uniform for the first time are two rookies: Winters and tight end Brayden Willis.
The Rams other inactive are offensive linemen Kevin Dotson and Warren McClendon, and defensive end Desjuan Johnson.
PURDY’S STAT COMPANY
Three quick stats about quarterback Brock Purdy potentially historic start:
He can join Billy Volek as the only Super Bowl-era quarterbacks with two touchdown passes in each of their first seven starts.
Purdy could be the first with a 95-plus passer rating in his first seven starts
Still 101 days shy of his 24th birthday, he can join his childhood idol, Dan Marino, and Patrick Mahomes as the only quarterbacks ever under the age of 24 to record a passer rating of 95-or-higher in seven consecutive starts.
#49ers Brock Purdy, who turns 24 in 101 days, can join his childhood idol, Dan Marino, and Patrick Mahomes as the only quarterbacks ever under the age of 24 to record a passer rating of 95-or-higher in seven consecutive starts.
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) September 17, 2023