The Los Angeles Rams have agreed to terms to bring back two-time Super Bowl champion running back Sony Michel one year after leaving the Rams for the L.A. Chargers in 2022. The contract is reportedly to be for one year.
Michel won the 2021 Super Bowl as a member of the Rams and defeated the Rams in the 2018 Super Bowl as a member of the New England Patriots. He returns to the Rams after 10 games as a reserve running back for the Chargers behind Pro Bowl back Austin Ekeler.
In those 10 games, Michel received just 36 carries for 106 yards and no touchdowns. It was his first zero-touchdown campaign in his five NFL seasons. In 17 games with the Rams in 2021, he had 208 carries for 845 yards with four rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown. He totaled 973 all-purpose yards.
In four postseason games with the Rams, he had 80 yards without a touchdown. He had 336 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns during his Super Bowl run with the Patriots in 2018.
Michel will likely play a backup role for the Rams behind Cam Akers. In addition to Akers and Michel, the Rams have running backs Kyren Williams, Ronnie Rivers and rookie Zach Evans on the roster. It remains to be seen if the Rams enter the season with five running backs on the roster.
The Rams offense appears to be rounding into shape with the Michel signing, and it appears to look relatively similar — with a revamped offensive line — to the offense that won the Super Bowl in 2021. Of course, the Rams do not have championship expectations in 2023, but the offenses have many of the same main contributors.
Cam Akers to be central figure in offense
Rams head coach Sean McVay stated that Akers, the team’s primary running back, is going to be a central figure in the team’s offensive game plan this season. Akers, like Michel, had a down 2022 campaign. But Akers’ 2022 was filled with question marks surrounding his fit with the team, not his talent.
“He’s really capitalized on a lot of the momentum he built up toward the latter part of the year. And he’s going to be a huge part of what we’re doing moving forward,” McVay said. “He’s had a great offseason. I love the rapport that he’s established with Ron Gould, our new running backs coach. Cam is going to be a central figure in this offense.
“I think he’s priming himself to have a great year. and also, I’ve loved what Kyren Williams has done in that running backs room. But Cam is a stud. He’s taking great care of himself physically, he’s in a good place mentally. Just continuing to mature and I’m really excited about what he’s going to do for us this year.”
