Tony Pollard joined the Tennessee Titans in free agency after the Dallas Cowboys let him to go in search of better opportunities. They will rely on Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott, who they got back, to be their one-two punch in 2024, with players like Deuce Vaughn and Royce Freeman filling in the gaps. Suffice it to say, there will be more of a committee approach.
Stephen Jones, the executive vice president of the Cowboys, frequently discusses how hiring talent is a year-round endeavor. To liven up this area, there’s still room for a seasoned running back to enter and compete. There are still some intriguing names available, such as Latavius Murray, Kareem Hunt, and Dalvin Cook. But Bleacher Report claims that Cam Akers would be a perfect match in Dallas. Potential suitors are probably scared off by Akers’ injury history, but he might be a steal on a low-risk, veteran-minimum contract.
Akers broke the conventional recovery time of a full year after an Achilles tear in 2021 by returning to the field in just five months. He should be able to fully recover from his injury in time for this year’s first week of play after going down in early November. The soon-to-be 25-year-old offers a unique combination of potential and experience that no other running back in the open market can match. Any team willing to roll the odds and find a position on the roster for a high potential backup should consider him.
The soon-to-be 25-year-old offers a unique combination of potential and experience that no other running back in the open market can match. Any team willing to roll the odds and find a position on the roster for a high potential backup should consider him. Akers might find a home with the Dallas Cowboys, who declined to select a running back in the 2024 selection. Akers might become Dallas’ best option as early as this upcoming season, with a fading Ezekiel Elliott leading a backfield that is mainly inexperienced and lacks potential behind the aging veteran.
It’s frightening to have several Achilles tears, especially because Akers is recovering from one right now. Nonetheless, Akers is a useful player when well. In 2020, he amassed 625 yards in his rookie season. Later, he would light up the Los Angeles Rams’ postseason, rushing for 131 yards against the Seattle Seahawks and 90 yards against the Green Bay Packers. Following his initial Achilles tear, Akers returned in 2022 with his best season to date. In 15 games, he ran for 786 yards and seven touchdowns.
With his quickness and knack at picking passes out of the backfield, Akers has exciting potential. Akers fits the Cowboys’ attitude of not spending a lot on outside players, and his injury history also makes him a fairly inexpensive option. It wouldn’t hurt to explore the possibility.
