What Happened to Rams Rookie Cam Akers and Why Is He Not Playing?
The Los Angeles Rams have been one of the toughest teams to figure out lately. A week ago, they were embarrassed by the previously winless New York Jets at home. The week before, they were dominant against the New England Patriots. In an up-and-down year, it’s been rookie running back Cam Akers who has provided the offensive stability as of late. Akers, however, won’t be on the field in Sunday’s key NFC West battle against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Los Angeles Rams were embarrassed last week
The Los Angeles Rams were on the wrong end of the biggest upset of the NFL season. The Rams entered Week 15 as a 17-point favorite against a winless New York Jets team at home. The Rams trailed 13-3 at halftime and never recovered. The hapless Jets went on to post an improbable 23-20 victory.
“In all three phases, it wasn’t good enough,” Rams coach Sean McVay said, according to ESPN. “This loss will demoralize us only as much as we allow it to. It’s going to be embarrassing. Sick to your stomach about it, but we do have two games left. … It’s very humbling, but we’re going to move forward. That’s all I know how to do.”
The Rams still have a shot at winning the division but need to defeat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. “We have a game coming up next week that we were going to have to win anyways, and I think we know that,” Rams quarterback Jared Goff said after the Jets game. “Obviously, we’re disappointed with how today went and embarrassed.”
Cam Akers has taken over in the backfield
Cam Akers played his college football at Florida State, where he played three years and racked up 2,875 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. He also collected seven touchdowns through the air. Akers was a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. The Los Angeles Rams selected him with the 52nd overall pick.
Akers, a 5-foot-10, 217-pound running back, got off to a slow start this season. In the opener, he did carry the ball 14 times but he averaged less than three yards per carry, tallying 39 yards on the ground. Through Week 12, Akers only had 10 or more carries in a game one other time.
In Week 13, however, Akers became the Rams’ featured back. In a 38-28 win at the Arizona Cardinals, Akers carried the ball 21 yards for 72 yards and a touchdown. The following week, against the New England Patriots, he had the best game of his young career. Akers carried the ball 29 times for 171 yards.
Why is Cam Akers not playing against the Seahawks?
In their biggest game of the season, the LA Rams will be without one of their best offensive weapons. The Rams travel to face their NFC West rivals in the Seattle Seahawks and will be without Akers. Akers was injured during the Rams’ embarrassing loss to the New York Jets last week.
Akers suffered a high ankle sprain after rushing 15 times for 63 yards. He was injured early in the second quarter and came back with the ankle heavily taped. “He is a war daddy,” Rams coach Sean McVay said Monday, according to ESPN. “But he is going to be out for at least the next week or so.”
With Akers out of the lineup, the Rams will turn to Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown.
