According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers is the topic of trade conversations today. Akers was inactive for the Rams on Sunday against the 49ers, and Rapoport says that the Rams are also considering re-engaging in trade talks that occurred last season.
Quick Facts
What does this mean for Cam Akers and the Rams?
Rams head coach Sean McVay said of his decision to make Akers inactive on Sunday: “I think there is 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.”
While McVay made it seem like there’s a potential for the two sides to find a resolution short of a trade, Rams running back Kyren Williams’ postgame comments sounded like the team is prepared to move on from Akers.
“Me and Cam, we were close [in] his time here,” Williams said via ESPN. “I’m hoping he goes somewhere that he can excel and do what he does best because Cam is a great football player, but even a better person. So good luck to Cam.”
Williams registered 100 scrimmage yards and another two touchdowns in Week 2. He also scored twice in the Rams victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. Sean McVay said that going with Williams and keeping Akers inactive was best for the team. “Felt like that was best for our football team,” he said, “felt like Kyren (Williams) gave us the best opportunity, and what Ronnie (Rivers) and Royce (Freeman) have done, so that was the decision I made.”
Apparently, McVay’s decision caught Akers off guard:
I’m just as confused as everybody else. I’m blessed though 🤷🏾♂️
— Cam akers (@thereal_cam3) September 17, 2023
The Rams tried to trade Akers last season but didn’t receive any offers that moved the needle enough to do so.
The Rams have been more competitive this season than many anticipated, and it seems that Sean McVay is taking an open-competition approach to everything this season. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said that it’s a “next guy up” league.
“The next guy is up, you know?” said quarterback Matthew Stafford after Sunday’s game. “Whether it’s a situation like Cam’s or an injury, we’re used to this. This is the NFL. Every week, there is somebody that tweaks something on a Friday, oh, here we go, next guy is up to play.
