Cam Akers tore his Achilles in July while working out on his own before training camp, which was expected to sideline him for the entire season. But the Rams shared some exciting news on Thursday ahead of their Week 16 game against the Vikings.
Akers has been designated to return from the non-football injury list. That opens the 21-day window for him to practice, the first step on his path to playing this season.
The Rams will then have the chance to activate him before that 21-day window shuts, at which point he can suit up in a game.
They shared the following tweet teasing this news before making the announcement official,
Let's get it, @thereal_cam3. pic.twitter.com/al60yRzFRS
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 23, 2021
Sean McVay expressed optimism that Akers could potentially return for a playoff run if the Rams made it, but there are still three weeks left in the regular season, so he’s even further ahead of schedule than the team anticipated.
He averaged 84.8 rushing yards per game in his final five games of the 2020 season, and then gained 221 yards on the ground in the playoffs. He was a huge part of the offense late last year, bringing the complete package as a running back.