Injuries and the Cam Akers drama have produced an unstable Rams rushing attack this season. The defending Super Bowl champions enter Week 10 ranked 31st on the ground.
The team held onto Akers at the trade deadline and used him against the Buccaneers. Another option will be available for the reeling Rams on Sunday. Sean McVay said the team will activate Kyren Williams from IR. Williams has been out since Week 1 due to a high ankle sprain sustained during limited duty in Week 1. Williams will be the Rams’ fourth injury activation this season.
A fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, Williams has one NFL play on his resume. That special teams rep led to a half-season’s worth of injury-induced absences. But the Rams will get a look at the two-time Fighting Irish 1,000-yard rusher against the Cardinals. It remains to be seen if Williams will carve out a meaningful role in Los Angeles’ backfield, but given the team’s struggles, it would surprise if the 5-foot-9 rusher did not receive an extended look during this season’s second half.
Williams combined to score 31 touchdowns during his sophomore and junior years in South Bend. He topped 300 receiving yards in each of those campaigns. But injuries have been a problem for the rookie; Week 10 will be the end of an extensive journey. Williams began training camp on the Rams’ active/PUP list due to a broken foot.
Akers has not regained the form he displayed as a rookie; the July 2021 Achilles tear has become an unfortunate line of demarcation for the former second-round pick’s career. Following what is believed to be a football-related dispute, the Rams dangled Akers in deals — including offers for Christian McCaffrey and Brian Burns. No team bit. Akers, who is signed through 2023, totaled five carries for three yards last week in Tampa.
Darrell Henderson, who is playing on an expiring contract, leads the Rams with 253 rushing yards (4.1 per carry). But the team has tried veteran Malcolm Brown and UDFA Ronnie Rivers at points as well. Injuries at four of L.A.’s five starting offensive line positions have certainly impacted the team’s ability to sustain a ground game as well. The Rams will at least have their full stable of running backs available this week.