Houston Texans operating again Cam Akers (22) runs with the ball in the course of the first quarter towards the Los Angeles Rams at NRG Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Troy Taormina-Imagn Pictures Cam Akers is aware of the sensation that Houston Texans beginning operating again Joe Mixon and backup Dameon Pierce skilled in Week 2.
Accidents to the highest two backs on the depth chart final week opened the door for Akers to observe this week because the No. 1 again and potential starter when the Texans roll into Minneapolis to face certainly one of Akers’ former groups, the 2-0 Vikings.
There is no Cliff’s Notes model to how Akers received right here, however his mere presence on an NFL roster at age 25 after twice tearing his Achilles says all the things it is advisable to learn about his drive and perseverance.
Akers had a team-high 32 yards on seven carries with Mixon (ankle) exiting final Sunday’s win towards the Chicago Bears and Pierce (hamstring) sitting out.
The one-time No. 1 operating again in highschool is taking part in on a veteran minimal deal to show, in his phrases, “I am nonetheless who I’m. I have never misplaced a step.”
Akers spent a part of final season with the Vikings following a commerce from the Los Angeles Rams. He went on injured reserve in November and denies there’s any further motivation to soften Minnesota’s protection in a revenge play. He is been too busy occupied with a goal-line fumble towards the Bears.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans stated Wednesday that Houston is holding out hope for Mixon to be on the sphere in Minnesota. In coaching camp, Ryans labeled the previous Bengals operating again “as robust as our hardest participant” when defending his sturdiness.
If Mixon cannot go, Pierce may not be the subsequent best choice for Houston due to a weeks-long struggle along with his ailing hamstring.
“I haven’t got to prepare while you keep prepared,” Akers stated.
Expertise has by no means been Akers’ difficulty. Throughout a prolific prep profession in Mississippi, Akers had greater than 13,000 yards mixed dashing and passing and 149 touchdowns. As a senior taking part in operating again and quarterback, he rushed for two,105 yards and 34 touchdowns and handed for 3,128 yards and 31 TDs.
A star at Florida State with 34 complete TDs and two 1,000-yard seasons, Akers went to the Rams within the second spherical of the 2020 draft. He completed his rookie season robust with 221 dashing yards and two touchdowns in two playoff video games, however tore his Achilles one week earlier than coaching camp started. He made a surprising return virtually precisely 5 months later and performed within the Week 18 Christmas Day sport towards the San Francisco 49ers, proving that he was worthy of a playoff roster spot.
He began and had 13 carries for 21 yards within the 23-20 victory within the Tremendous Bowl towards the Cincinnati Bengals.
Akers requested a commerce one month into the 2022 season as a consequence of a restricted position, then discovered his manner onto the sphere and delivered a three-touchdown sport within the first of three consecutive 100-yard dashing video games. He began Week 1 of 2023 however gained 29 yards on 22 carries and was inactive Week 2, the beginning of a path out of Los Angeles. He was traded to the Vikings in September for a sixth-round choose within the 2026 draft.
Six video games into his tenure with the Vikings, Akers tore his left Achilles.
On Sunday, he vows to be prepared if one other alternative arises.
“He is been taking part in at a excessive degree since I watched him in school. He is a bit of extra centered,” quarterback CJ Stroud stated of his first impressions of Akers. “His foundational work has been nice. I am actually loving his sport, how affected person he’s and he hits the opening on the identical time.”
Akers is not the one off-the-radar participant to look at in Week 3. Listed below are a couple of others prone to fill expanded roles this week:
–Broncos RT Alex Palczewski (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Mike McGlinchey went down late within the Week 2 loss to the Steelers and “Palcho” entered the sport with a stiff project: Preserve T.J. Watt away from rookie QB Bo Nix within the two-minute offense.
With per week to arrange for the Buccaneers, head coach Sean Payton is assured within the 25-year-old Palczewski.
“We’ll be good relative to what we’re doing safety sensible, however he is performed in lots of soccer video games,” Payton stated. “I do know he’ll be enthusiastic about his first begin.”
An All-American at Illinois in 2022, Palczewski performed six school seasons and began 65 video games for the Preventing Illini. He initially made the Broncos’ roster as an undrafted free agent however went on injured reserve early final season.
“There’s going to be a degree of nerves, however I did six years at Illinois, so I received loads of begins beneath my belt,” he stated. “Clearly it is the NFL and there is lots of actually good gamers, however I am simply going to do the very best job I can, work on my approach and simply know that I need to give as a lot as effort as I can to guard the blokes round me and play for the blokes to the left and proper of me.”
–Rams WR Tutu Atwell (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
Puka Nacua is on injured reserve with a knee harm and the Rams might be with out WR Cooper Kupp for “an prolonged interval” with a left ankle harm. Kupp was harm final week at Arizona.
Jordan Whittington had 11 catches within the preseason and created lots of buzz as the subsequent best choice in line for the Rams, however that may be overlooking the diminutive Atwell.
As Matthew Stafford strained to discover a lead goal towards the Cardinals, Demarcus Robinson led the Rams with 50 receiving yards. Atwell was shut behind with 48 and is aware of the 49ers’ scheme properly. He had seven receptions for 77 yards in final 12 months’s assembly with San Francisco in Los Angeles.
Stafford already trusts Atwell. Look again to the primary 4 weeks of final season, when Atwell was focused 35 instances and caught 22 passes.
–Discipline Stage Media
