Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay had high hopes for the emergence of running back Cam Akers going into Year 2.
Akers showed all the makings of becoming a bona fide workhorse in this revamped offense leading up to the 2021 NFL season. Unfortunately, this group’s been dealt a devastating blow after he suffered a torn Achilles while training.
The only contingency option left on the Rams’ roster is running back Darrell Henderson. The rest of the depth chart still has yet to register a single carry in the NFL.
There is now plenty of speculation regarding the state of the backfield going into training camp. While McVay did not rule out the prospect of bringing in a proven veteran, he is interested to see which of the young options can step up, via ESPN Los Angeles:
“We’ve got some young backs on our roster that I’m intrigued about seeing how they handle this opportunity. I don’t know that the veteran route is something that we’d rule out but it’s not something we’re immediately looking to address right now.”
McVay may be trying to downplay the team’s immediate need to bring in outside help with his comments. After all, the Rams currently have a bevy of young options to check out in Xavier Jones, Raymond Calais, Jake Funk and Otis Anderson.
The injury to Akers has inevitably created an opportunity for all these backs to potentially take on key snaps in training camp. Brining in a notable free agent right away will hinder the coaching staff from getting to explore their current options.
At the same time, camp is already right around the corner with their first practice scheduled for Wednesday, July 28. If they do opt to explore the market, they will want to provide the new addition with ample time to get acclimated to the new scheme.
Henderson is currently the de facto No. 1 running back on the depth chart thanks to his production and experience in the offense. However, his track record with injuries means finding a complementary option will be a top priority for them in the coming days.
There are a number of intriguing free agents available such as Todd Gurley, Adrian Peterson and Le’Veon Bell. Other names like Duke Johnson, Dion Lewis and LeSean McCoy could also fall on the Rams’ radar.
It will be interesting to see how the pecking order ultimately shakes out before the 2021 campaign begins.
