Even with the addition of Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, the Houston Texans could be in the market for another rusher before the start of the 2024 season.
According to KPRC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, the Texans worked out former Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers. Houston also worked out former Ohio State running back Myian Williams and veteran Deon Jackson.
Akers, a second-round pick out of Florida State in 2020, has also drawn interest from the Minnesota Vikings, where he played last season after being traded from Los Angeles in September. In six games, he rushed for 138 yards and one touchdown and caught 11 passes for 70 yards before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury.
The #Texans worked out RB Cam Akers. Per @AaronWilson_NFL pic.twitter.com/4q0xOEwUnD
— Dylan Delgatto (@DDelgattoNFL) July 21, 2024
Akers was part of the Rams’ Super Bowl championship roster after returning from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during offseason workouts. While expected to miss the entire season, Aker returned to the active roster in December.
In the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals, he totaled 13 rush attempts for 21 rushing yards in a 23-20 victory. Akers also caught three passes for an extra 14 yards from Matthew Stafford.
Houston’s run game should be drastically improved with the addition of Mixon, who joined the Texans via trade earlier in the offseason. The Texans believe Mixon still can be one of the league’s top runners in Bobby Slowik’s offense and see his role expanding in a new location.
After the trade became official, the Texans gave the 27-year-old Mixon a three-year, $27 million contract extension. So far, Slowik has been pleased with the 2021 Pro Bowler’s work ethic and consistency in the backfield alongside reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud.
“He’s a fun, fun person to coach,” Slowik said Saturday following training camp. “I mean, from day one, showed up and absolutely worked his tail off. I mean, you could see right away in phase two and in OTAs, like I understand now why he was as good as he was at Cincinnati.”
Even if Akers doesn’t sign, Houston must find a serviceable No. 2 option behind Mixon after finishing 28th in yards per game last season.
Devin Singletary was an ideal second option, but following his breakout down the stretch, the New York Giants inked him to a three-year, $16.5 million deal as Saquon Barkley’s replacement.
Cam Akers with an interesting pass pro rep here. pic.twitter.com/9wDmpy2btg
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 14, 2022
Third-year running back Dameon Pierce has quietly put together back-to-back solid practices heading into Monday’s practice. After nearly rushing for 1,000 yards as a rookie, the Florida product regressed in Slowik’s zone-based offense, averaging only 2.9 yards per attempt.
Pierce has looked more decisive in cuts and appears significantly more comfortable running in Slowik’s scheme, a testament to his offseason workouts both during OTAs and while away from the facility.
“He’s always been a tireless worker,” Slowik said. “But now he’s seeing the dividends of that and it’s been fun to watch him in OTAs and camp. I mean, he’s doing really good stuff in camp.”
