The transition between the Rams and running back Cam Akers finally broke down after the first game of 2023. On Wednesday, the Rams traded Akers to the Vikings.
On Thursday, coach Sean McVay was asked by reporters about the move.
“Sometimes you have to be able to make tough decisions, and I’m very grateful for the things that Cam has done throughout his career,” McVay said. “I will always make decisions that I believe are in the best interests of the football team and this is not a personal indictment of him. He’s a very good player who has done a lot of really good things. Sometimes you look at the situation for him and for our team and we felt like Minnesota was excited. He knows [Vikings coach] Kevin [O’Connell]he knows [Vikings offensive coordinator] We s [Phillips], [Vikings quarterbacks coach] Chris O’Hara, [Vikings assistant inside linebackers coach] Thad Bogardus is here, [Vikings V.P. of player health and performance] Tyler Williams, so there will be a certain comfort and familiarity and I feel good and I wish him nothing but the best.”
McVay used that phrase three times – I wish him nothing but the best – once in response to each of the three Akers-related questions.
The seventh-year coach was asked if he felt like he had failed given that he was considered a “player’s coach.”
“No, I wouldn’t say that,” McVay said. “I think that’s a pretty simple narrative. Like I said, we’re interested in making decisions that we believe are in the best interest of the team and there are many layers to that, but I’m grateful to Cam and wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
Did this happen because Kyren Williams won the starting tailback job?
“I wish Cam nothing but the best,” McVay said. “We are making progress. We’re looking at Cincinnati and I’m very happy with the running back room. I thought Kyren did a good job. I think Ronnie Rivers is capable of supporting him a little bit more. Whether it’s Royce Freeman or Zach Evans, [I] I feel good in this group and [running backs coach] Ron Gould’s leadership in this group.”
In 2022, an issue arose between the Rams and Cam. They mended fences after he wasn’t traded.
This year things got off to a quick start again. And now it’s over.
Still, we don’t know exactly what happened. At least we know McVay only wishes the best for Cam.