Houston Texans running back Cam Akers (22) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina -Imagn Images Cam Akers knows the feeling Houston Texans starting running back Joe Mixon and backup Dameon Pierce went through in Week 2.
Injuries to two of the top backs on the depth chart last week opened the door for Akers to practice this week as the No. 1 back and potential starter when the Texans travel to Minneapolis to face Akers' former team One, 2-0 Vikings.
There's no version of how Akers got to this point in Cliff's Notes, but the fact that he was on an NFL roster at age 25 after two torn Achilles speaks volumes about what you need to know about his drive and Perseverance is everything.
Akers rushed for a team-high 32 yards on seven carries. Mixon (ankle) left last Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears and Pierce (hamstring) was absent.
The former No. 1 running back in high school is playing on a veteran's minimum contract and, in his words, “I'm still me. I haven't lost a step.”
Akers spent time with the Vikings last season after being traded from the Los Angeles Rams. He went on injured reserve in November and denied any extra motivation to melt down Minnesota's defense in the revenge game. He's been busy thinking about the goal-line fumble against the Bears.
Texans coach DeMeco Reigns said Wednesday that Houston wants Mixon to be on the field in Minnesota. In training camp, Ryans defended the former Bengals running back's durability, saying he's “as tough as our toughest players.”
If Mixon can't go, Pierce likely won't be Houston's next best option because he's been dealing with a hamstring injury for several weeks.
“I don't have to be ready when you're ready,” Akers said.
Talent has never been an issue for Akers. During a prolific prep career at Mississippi State, Akers totaled more than 13,000 rushing and passing yards and 149 touchdowns. As a senior at running back and quarterback, he rushed for 2,105 yards and 34 touchdowns and passed for 3,128 yards and 31 touchdowns.
A star player at Florida State, Akers joined the Rams in the second round of the 2020 draft and threw for 34 touchdowns in two seasons. He rushed for 221 yards and two touchdowns in two playoff games as a rookie before tearing his Achilles a week before training camp began. Almost exactly five months later, he made a shocking return and played in the Christmas Day game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18, proving he was worthy of a spot on the playoff roster.
He started and rushed 13 times for 21 yards in a 23-20 Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
With a limited role, Akers requested a trade a month into the 2022 season, and he found his way into the field and threw for three touchdowns in the first of three consecutive 100-yard rushing games. He started Week 1 in 2023 but gained 29 yards on 22 carries and did not play to start Week 2 out of Los Angeles. In September, he was traded to the Vikings in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 draft.
Akers suffered a torn left Achilles tendon after six games with the Vikings.
On Sunday, he vowed to be ready if another opportunity arose.
“He's been playing at a high level since I've seen him play in college. He's a little more focused,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said of his first impression of Akers. “His fundamental work is outstanding. I really like his game, he's patient and he's hitting the ball in the hole at the same time.”
Akers wasn't the only player who flew under the radar in Week 3.
—Broncos RT Alex Palczewski (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
With Mike McGlinchey sidelined with an injury in the Week 2 loss to the Steelers, “Palcho” entered the game with a daunting task: keeping T.J. Watt away from rookie quarterback Bo on a two-minute drive. Knicks.
The Buccaneers still have a week to prepare, and head coach Sean Payton is confident in the 25-year-old Palczewski.
“We're going to be smart relative to what we do in protection, but he's been in a lot of football games,” Payton said. “I know he's going to be excited about his first start.”
Pachewski was a 2022 All-American at Illinois, played six seasons in college and started 65 games for the Fighting Illini. He originally entered the Broncos roster as an undrafted free agent but was placed on injured reserve early last season.
“There's going to be a certain amount of nerves, but I was at Illinois for six years, so I have a lot of starts,” he said. “Obviously this is the NFL and there are a lot of really good players, but I'm going to do the best I can and try to improve my skills and know that I want to do everything I can to protect the guys around me on my left and my right. People play ball.
–Rams WR Tutu Atwell (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
Puka Nakua was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, while Rams WR Cooper Kupp could be out for an “extended period” with a left ankle injury. Kupp was injured last week in Arizona.
Jordan Whittington, who caught 11 passes in the preseason, is drawing a lot of attention as the Rams' next-best option, but that could overlook the undersized Atwell.
While Matthew Stafford struggled to find the leading target against the Cardinals, Demarcus Robinson led the Rams with 50 receiving yards. Atwell is close behind with 48 points and knows the 49ers' tactics well. Last year in Los Angeles' game against San Francisco, he had seven catches for 77 yards.
Stafford already trusts Atwell. Looking back at the first four weeks of last season, Atwell was targeted 35 times and caught 22 passes.
–Scene-level media