Houston Texans sign free agent running back Cam Akers, report says

NFL Offensive Back Cam Akers has officially found a new home in the league. And he’s signed with a team that’s expected to field one of the league’s most explosive offensive attacks in the 2024-25 campaign. The Houston Texans signed the free agent to a contract on Sunday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Akers practiced with the Texans on Sunday, and they decided that was enough to sign him. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2Houston trained former Patriots and Buccaneers running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn today before agreeing to terms with Akers. Vaughn rushed for 384 yards and two touchdowns with 14 receptions for 81 receiving yards and a score.

Most recently, Akers spent time with the Minnesota Vikings. He has had a decent NFL career so far, but has dealt with multiple Achilles injuries. In 36 games so far, he has rushed for 1,581 yards and 13 touchdowns.

As a receiver, he had 38 receptions for 320 receiving yards and one touchdown. His most productive season so far came with the LA Rams in 2022, when he had 188 carries for 786 yards and nine touchdowns. As a receiver, he finished with 13 receptions for 117 yards.

Akers tore his Achilles tendon while practicing shortly before the start of training camp in July 2021. He was expected to miss the entire 2021 campaign. The former Florida State star was one of the first players to undergo what’s known as SpeedBridge surgery, which shortened his recovery time from 12 months to five months. He was able to return to action in Week 18 against the San Francisco 49ers. In the Super Bowl, Akers finished with 13 carries for 21 rushing yards while making three receptions for 14 receiving yards in the Rams’ 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

In 2023, Akers was the Rams’ starting running back in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, carrying the ball 22 times for 29 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. He was listed as inactive for the Rams’ Week 2 game against the 49ers, which made him a regular season starter. Kyren Williams their starting full-back.

On September 21, 2023, the Rams traded Akers and a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick. Akers was listed as inactive for Week 3. In his Minnesota debut against the Panthers, the former Florida State star rushed for 40 yards on just five attempts along with two receptions for 11 yards. The Vikings won that game 21–13. But unfortunately for Akers, in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons, he suffered a left Achilles tendon injury. Minnesota placed him on injured reserve on November 8, 2023.

During his time at Florida State, he finished with 2,875 total rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. As a receiver, he had 69 carries for 486 yards and seven touchdowns. In two of those years, he finished with over 1,000 rushing yards (2017 and 2019), earning Third Team All-ACC honors in 2017 and Second Team All-ACC in 2019.

Cam Akers had an incredible high school career

Akers was a prolific shooting guard during his high school years and one of the most sought-after players in America.

During his years at Clinton High School (Clinton, Mississippi), Akers was one of the most prolific running backs in America. He earned a five-star+ rating from On3 Industry Rankings in 2017, while also being ranked as the nation’s No. 2 running back. Akers has earned numerous accolades and honors, including being named to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and the U.S. Army Player of the Year Award, given to the most outstanding high school football player.

He helped propel the Clinton Arrows to their first-ever state title in football in 2016. During his four-year career, he finished with 8,140 passing yards and 78 touchdowns, while rushing for 5,103 yards and 71 touchdowns.

Among other accolades, Akers was named Mississippi’s Mr. Football for Class 6A and the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2016. His numbers that season were nothing short of incredible, throwing for 3,128 yards and 31 touchdowns, while rushing for 2,105 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Once he chose Florida State, he chose them over offers from Ole Miss, LSU, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and many others.