McVay mum on whether Akers will stay with team
Cam Akers’ future with the Rams is in doubt after coach Sean McVay declined to say whether the running back will remain with the team moving forward.
McVay ruled out Akers for Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers for reasons he wanted to keep private. Akers, who’s not dealing with an injury, has missed the past two practices with the team.
“Working through some different things with Cam,” McVay told reporters on Friday. “He wasn’t here yesterday. He won’t be here today and he’ll be out for the game. We’re just working through some different stuff. I want to be able to keep that in-house.”
When McVay was asked if Akers will be a part of the team moving forward, McVay said: “We’re working through some different things right now. … Keep things internal right now.”
Akers and McVay have had differences this season, issues that came to light after McVay challenged Akers to have more urgency after the seasonopening loss to the Buffalo Bills. Akers mostly stood on the sideline versus the Bills and only received three carries.
At the time, Akers guessed that McVay wanted more urgency from him in practice, but McVay said it had nothing to do with practice.
“If coach don’t think I’m being urgent, then be more urgent,” Akers said last month. “That’s what it comes down to.
“Whatever Coach says I’m going to take it and learn from it. Whatever you want to say, I’m going to take it and learn from it and go from there. Whether I think it’s right or not. Maybe I’m not always right.”
Akers provided a spark against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3, but he’s struggled to find a rhythm for most of the season. The 2020 secondround pick recorded 51 carries for 151 yards and one touchdown during the first five games of the season.
McVay said Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown and Ronnie Rivers, who’s on the practice squad, will handle the running back duties against the Panthers.
“It’s going to take all of us and everybody gotta step up because Cam plays a big role in this offense,” Henderson said. “He’s a huge part of this
offense.”
Henderson expressed support for Akers returning to the team, but he mentioned that he doesn’t know the details of the situation.
“We trust he’s going to be good,”Henderson said. “He’ll be alright. We’re gonna do this with him. … That’s on coach and Cam to talk, so I don’t know what’s going on.”
With Henderson and Akers as the leading running backs, the Rams have struggled to find consistency with their ground game. They’re averaging 62.4 rushing yards per game and 3.2 yard per carry.
Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey was asked how he can help Akers find his footing before McVay revealed that the running back won’t play this week. Ramsey and Akers are close friends because of their ties to Florida State.
“He’s a confident guy already, so I won’t say I need to give him any confidence,” Ramsey said. “I think he knows he’s a really good player. Everybody else knows that as well. … But I can challenge him to practice hard and build a leadership value and pay attention to the details, and then just trust his confidence.”
Things to sort out on offensive line
McVay said he hasn’t made a decision on who will start at left guard, center and right guard on Sunday against the Panthers.
“We’re working through that stuff,” McVay said.
Starting center Brian Allen was ruled out for the fifth consecutive game because of a knee injury and left guard David Edwards was placed on injured reserve because of a second concussion sustained this season. Alaric Jackson has started at right guard the past three games while filling in for Coleman Shelton, who’s also on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
McVay and Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen hinted this week that they prefer to build chemistry instead of making more changes to the offensive line. That’s likely an indicator of Bobby Evans staying at left guard with Jeremiah Kolone starting at center for the second consecutive game.
The Rams also have guard Oday Aboushi and center Matt Skura, two veterans with 112 combined career starts, if the team decides to make changes to the offensive line against defensive end Brian Burns and the rest of the Panthers’ defense.
‘Questionable’ tags for star players
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp (foot), defensive lineman Aaron Donald (foot) and tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) were listed as “questionable” on the final injury.
McVay, however, expects all three players to play against the Panthers. Donald returned to practice Friday after missing the prior two workouts with the team.
The Rams have relied heavily on Kupp and Higbee during their offensive struggles this season. The team is averaging only 16 points per game.
Rookie cornerback Cobie Durant (hamstring) and backup quarterback John Wolford (neck) were also listed as “questionable.”