HOUSTON – The Texans are signing veteran running back Cam Akers following a successful workout on Sunday, according to a league source.
Akers, a former Los Angeles Rams second-round draft pick, has also drawn interest from the Minnesota Vikings where he played last season after a trade and suffering another torn Achilles. He played in six games and rushed for 138 yards and one touchdown, catching 11 passes for 70 yards.
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The Texans have been evaluating free agent running backs, working out former Indianapolis Colts starter Deon Jackson and former Ohio State runner Miyan Williams earlier this week. They worked out former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn on Sunday along with Akers, per a league source. Vaughn has rushed for 384 career yards and two touchdowns with 14 catches for 81 yards and a score.
Akers was part of the Rams’ Super Bowl championship squad after returning from his first torn Achilles tendon. He tore his Achilles before the season while working out and then returned to the active roster in December. In the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals, he contributed 21 rushing yards on 13 carries and three catches for 14 yards in a 23-20 victory.
Akers, 25, is a 5-foot-10, 217-pound former Florida State standout who has rushed for 1,581 career yards, four yards per carry with 11 touchdowns and 38 catches for 320 yards and one touchdown.
In 2022 for the Rams, he rushed for 786 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns as he averaged 4.2 yards per carry. He has just three career fumbles.
He was traded to the Vikings for a sixth-round draft pick last year, rushing for 40 yards on five carries and catching two passes for 11 yards in his debut against the Carolina Panthers. He got hurt against the Falcons, tearing his Achilles, and was placed on injured reserve.
At Florida State, the Mississippi native rushed for 2,875 yards and 27 touchdowns and caught 69 passes for 486 yards and seven touchdowns.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.