Sean McVay updates injury status of running back Cam Akers

Sean McVay and the 2021 Los Angeles Rams are rolling with a 6-1 overall record as the NFL nears the midpoint of the regular season.

While McVay isn’t going to speculate about the playoffs this early in the year, the Rams coach provided optimism surrounding the return of running back Cam Akers if L.A. does in fact make a postseason run.

“You don’t want to be presumptuous, but if we are able to make the playoffs and give ourselves a chance to play after (the regular season), the expectation is that Cam would be available to play,” Sean McVay said. “He’s on track to do that. He was running at 80 percent body weight at 10 miles per hour pretty effortlessly, and from the cameras that I saw last week that are kind of right behind his feet on the treadmill, unless you saw the scar you wouldn’t notice any sort of hitch in his giddy-up on that. He’s attacking the rehab the right way.

“He’s doing great. I think the plan is, if we’re able to play past the regular season, we’ll get Cam back this year and he’ll be playing in the playoffs.”

The former Florida State star led the Rams with 145 carries for 625 yards with two touchdowns as a rookie last season. He added 11 catches for 123 yards and another score in 13 games played. .

All indications coming out of training camp pointed to Sean McVay leaning on Akers as the true No. 1 running back this season, but the injury obviously altered those plans.

Instead, the Rams rushing attack has relied heavily on Darrell Henderson, who leads the team with 417 yards on the ground and four touchdowns. Sony Michel was acquired via trade when Akers originally went down, and has 56 carries for 209 yards and one touchdown so far.

Still, McVay remains cautiously optimistic about Akers’ potential return and the bonus he would add to an already explosive offensive attack.

“When you’re seeing him, and you ask about the progress … You ask Cam, there is no doubt in his mind that he’ll be ready if that opportunity presents itself. That’s what he is preparing for,” Sean McVay added. “I think I’m always looking at (Akers) as a plus-one because I still think that is asking a lot. Until you really have tangible evidence of, ‘What can he do?’ I am kind of looking at him as a bonus.”

The Rams are already clicking on all cylinders so the thought of Akers in the lineup should be terrifying for the other NFC contenders in their path.