The New Orleans Saints released veteran running back Cam Akers on Monday as part of their early cuts toward the final 53-man roster. A 2020 second-round pick, Akers had joined the Saints in June and was playing for a backup role behind seven-time Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore called the decision a “difficult one” in remarks to the media. “He’s a really good running back in this league…we just felt like, the depth of that room, Kendre [Miller] did a phenomenal job…We have a number of other guys we feel like can provide some roles.”
Akers’ Journey and Production
Akers began his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams before stints with the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings, the latter after a midseason trade last year. With the Vikings last season, he appeared in 12 games, rushing for 297 yards and one touchdown on 64 carries, along with 52 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions.
His best season was in 2022, when he ran for a career-high 786 yards in 15 games for the Rams. Akers led Los Angeles with seven touchdowns and finished that season with three consecutive games with at least 100 yards.
Akers responded to his release on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “NFL a crazy place,” followed by a crying face emoji.
Dylan Sanders noted this is the latest setback in “an unfortunate journey” for Akers. Since coming to the NFL as a highly touted pick out of Florida State, Akers has battled injuries and inconsistency. He missed most of the 2021 season after tearing his Achilles and has been unable to live up to his immense potential.
While Akers is talented as a runner, with more than 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career, he didn’t impress during the preseason. “The 26-year-old just didn’t do enough this preseason to stand out in what turned into a shockingly tight battle in the Saints running back room,” said Sanders. “He averaged 2.0 yards per carry on eight rushes, with his longest attempt gaining just four yards.”
He’ll now be looking for his fifth team in six seasons.
What’s Next for the Saints’ Backfield
With Akers off the roster, the Saints now have Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Devin Neal, Marcus Yarns, and Velus Jones Jr. in their running back room. These moves give the team flexibility as they finalize their roster ahead of the regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
Moore emphasized the decision wasn’t easy but reflected his confidence in the backfield depth. He praised Miller’s standout preseason performance and noted the team believes their current group can fill the roles needed.
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