Former Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers is expected to suit up for the Houston Texans this weekend as Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce are out of practice due to injuries. Houston will face another of Akers’ former teams, the Minnesota Vikings, this weekend at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Akers hasn’t started a game since Week 1 of last season, when he started as the lead back for the Rams and carried the ball 22 times to Kyren Williams’ 15. His position as starter was short-lived, as Akers was inactive for LA’s Week 2 game against the San Francisco 49ers and then was traded to the Vikings before Week 3. He made his debut for the Vikings in Week 4 and then suffered an Achilles injury in Week 9. That Achilles tear occurred on the opposite leg of his 2021 injury, sustained just before the start of training camp with the Rams. Akers returned in time to play in the playoffs this season, which was an accelerated recovery time given the severity of Achilles injuries.

Last week against the Chicago Bears, Akers ran seven times for 32 yards (4.6 avg), with his longest run being 13 yards. He earned his spot on Houston’s roster by leading the team in the preseason with 24 carries for 112 yards (4.7 avg), with a longest of 23 yards. He also caught eight passes for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Akers still appears to be a talented player despite the two Achilles injuries, and he could have an opportunity this weekend to show that he still deserves to be a starting running back in the NFL lineup. Can he effectively replace Mixon and Pierce and help CJ Stroud lead the Texans to victory over the Vikings?