The Los Angeles Rams received a major boost to their backfield before the regular season ended when Cam Akers was miraculously able to return.
Akers tore his Achilles in an offseason workout in July but somehow was able make his 2021 debut in Week 18 where he handled five carries and reeled in three receptions against the San Francisco 49ers.
However, that was just a chance for Akers to get his feet wet and he looked much more like himself in the Wild Card round against the Arizona Cardinals where he handled 17 carries for 55 yards to go along with two receptions for 40 yards.
Head coach Sean McVay was nothing short of impressed with Akers’ performance and heaped plenty of praise toward the young running back.
“It’s unbelievable,” McVay said after the game. “And, really, I don’t think the stats tell the story for how good he looked, leveling some runs off. He got a couple big-time runs called back. Also, thoughts and prayers are with (Cardinals S) Budda Baker. I got tremendous respect for him. I’m hopeful that we’ll get some news that he’s going to be okay.
“But I thought Cam was outstanding. He did a great job. And he’s only getting more and more confident. And you know what I love the most about him is what a confident, secure individual he is. A play I think he would want back earlier in the game and then he makes a great catch off the double pass in kind of that same spot. That thing hung up like a (Seahawks QB) Russell Wilson moon ball. It was great plays by those guys.”
There were a couple of plays that would have given Akers a bigger day, but all in all, it was a remarkable showing for a player who many thought might not be able to ever return to form. The Rams training staff deserves all the credit in the world because Akers is set up to help push Los Angeles all the way toward a Super Bowl appearance.
With Akers and Sony Michel, the Rams now have a two-headed monster in the backfield that they can ride the rest of the postseason in order to take pressure off Matthew Stafford.
