The Los Angeles Rams have officially moved on from running back Cam Akers, trading the back and a conditional seventh-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a conditional sixth-round pick. Akers came into the season viewed as the starter, but head coach Sean McVay has turned to Kyren Williams and now Akers will have the chance to make an impact for a potential NFC contender.
The relationship between McVay and Akers has been a bit rocky in the past and some wondered whether that played into the decision to move on from the back. But McVay insists there was nothing personal and he simply made the decision he felt was best for the Rams as a team.
“Sometimes you have to be able to make tough decisions and I’m very grateful for the things that Cam did over the course of his career,” McVay said. “I’m always going to make decisions that I think are in the best interest of the football team and that’s not a personal indictment on him. He’s a very good player, did a lot of really good things.”
McVay also believes the Vikings is an ideal situation for him and wished him the best with his new team.
“Sometimes you’re looking at the situation for him and for our team and we felt like Minnesota was excited,” the Rams coach added. He knows (Vikings Head Coach) Kevin (O’Connell), he knows (Vikings Offensive Coordinator) Wes (Phillips), (Vikings Quarterbacks Coach) Chris O’Hara, (Vikings Assistant Inside Linebackers Coach) Thad Bogardus is there, (Vikings Vice President of Player Health and Performance) Tyler Williams, so there’ll be some comfortability and some familiarity there and so feel good and I wish him nothing but the best.”
There are also some who question whether this ordeal with Akers takes a blow to McVay’s reputation as a player’s coach, but McVay dismissed that idea.
“No, I wouldn’t say that. I think that’s kind of an easy narrative,” McVay said. “Like I said, I think what we’re interested in is making decisions that we feel like are in the best interest of the team and there’s a lot of layers to it, but I am grateful for Cam and I wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
McVay is adamant that he is simply making decisions that are best for the Rams as a whole and nothing else. And now that the Akers deal is done, he is ready to move forward with the backs he has.
“I wish Cam nothing but the best. We’re moving forward,” McVay added. “We’re looking towards Cincinnati (Bengals) and I am very pleased with that running back room. I thought Kyren did a nice job. I think (RB) Ronnie Rivers is capable of being able to supplement him a little bit more. Whether it be (RB) Royce Freeman or (RB) Zach Evans, feel good about that group and (Running Backs Coach) Ron Gould’s leadership in that group.”
With the Rams set to take on a desperate Cincinnati Bengals team that has started the season 0-2, L.A. can’t afford to have its focus on anything but the task at hand. McVay knows this and will be sure to have his team ready to go on Monday night.
