Saints sign Cam Akers, adding more competition to their backfield
Saints sign Cam Akers, adding more competition to their backfield Akers won a Super Bowl with the Rams but is still looking for the right team fit
The New Orleans Saints have officially signed veteran running back Cam Akers. This was initially reported by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football before being confirmed on the NFL transaction wire. After reportedly showing interest in running back Nick Chubb before being signed by the Houston Texans, the Saints brought in Akers for a tryout at minicamp this week.
Akers, who turns just 26 on June 22, will be with his fourth team in the last three years. After a 2nd Team All-ACC selection with the Florida State Seminoles, Akers was selected in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. Despite missing four games and sharing backfield snaps as a rookie, Akers led the Rams with 625 rushing yards. He'd suffer an Achilles injury in 2021 that limited him to only one regular season game. However, Akers returned in time for the playoffs to pick up 248 yards from scrimmage in four games on the way to the Rams Super Bowl LVI championship.
Akers would rebound from the Achilles in 2022 to lead the Rams with 786 yards on the ground and 7 scores, both of which would be a career best. Los Angeles would trade Akers to the Minnesota Vikings early into the following season, where he'd pick up only 138 yards in six games before landing on injured reserve. He signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans during the 2024 offseason. After just 147 yards over five contests, the Texans traded him back to Minnesota. In his second stint with the Vikings, Akers ran for 297 yards in the last 12 games of last year.
Over his five years in the NFL, Akers has averaged four yards per carry while picking up 2,025 rushing yards. He's added 388 more as a receiver on 52 catches and has scored a total of 17 touchdowns. Akers has been hampered by injuries and never was able to secure a featured backfield role. However, he has excellent power between the tackles and good burst into the second level of a defense.
The addition of Cam Akers adds to the competition in the New Orleans backfield. Alvin Kamara will continue to be the team's featured weapon. Behind him, the often-injured Kendre Miller and 2024 veteran pickup Clyde Edwards-Helaire haven't been able to provide viable threats. The Saints also added Kansas running back Devin Neal in Round 6 of this year's draft along with Delaware running back Marcus Yarns as an undrafted rookie.
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