LA Rams injury update: Akers out, nobody off IR to face Seahawks

LA Rams injury update: Rookie running back Cam Akers suffered a high-ankle sprain, ruled out against Seattle Seahawks

The LA Rams are about to step onto a football field in Seattle with a winner-take-all outcome on center stage. The next game will be a knock-down-drag-out fight with the Seattle Seahawks. It’s a ‘all hands on deck’ sort of game. But the Rams have just learned that their hottest player, rookie running back Cam Akers, will be unable to go this coming Sunday.

It’s the equivalent of entering the boxing ring to face the champion while nursing a broken hand. You see, the news hurts this Rams team in several ways.

The LA Rams offense will be facing a healthier and more physical Seattle Seahawks defense. And for the past four games, the bright spot on the Rams offense has been the rushing of Akers. In the past four games, Akers has rushed for 390 yards and two touchdowns.

Wilson hasn’t forgotten

Since defeating the Seahawks 23-16, the Rams are just 3-2 and are coming off an embarrassing loss to the 1-13 New York Jets. Meanwhile, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson apologized for his poor performance against the Rams. Since that game, the Seahawks are 4-1, and Wilson has been on fire.  Not only has Wilson thrown for better than a 70 percent completion rate, but he’s tossed nine touchdowns and just three interceptions.

The Rams will be hard pressed to hold the Seahawks to fewer than three touchdowns in this rematch.  That makes it crucial for the Rams to manufacture points. Points have been tough to find for the Rams this year. Right now, the Rams average of 24.6 points per game is the 17th-ranked scoring offense in the NFL. That needs to improve dramatically.

More Rams injury updates

We know that the Rams defense was decimated in the first game with the Seahawks. Both linebacker Micah Kiser and defensive back Taylor Rapp were moved to Injured Reserve shortly thereafter, with hopes for a quick return to the active roster. What is their current status?

After all, both of whom have spent a modest amount of time on the team’s injured reserve list already. Is there any chance either or both will make it back?

So it looks like the offense is depleted a bit, and no reinforcements will be arriving for the Rams defense. Well, no major reinforcements.

Great Scott, he’s back

The Rams reported that they have restored outside linebacker, Jachai Polite to the practice squad, and defensive back Nick Scott to the active 53-man roster. While Scott may appear to be the more obvious upgrade, I would not rule out the team elevating Polite for this week’s game if rookie Terrell Lewis is still nursing his knee.

The LA Rams need some good news, and they certainly haven’t found any on this front. Will the Rams face the Seahawks with just two running backs active? Or will the team elevate undrafted rookie running back Xavier Jones to see what he can do against the Seahawks in this one? Whatever the answer, we know that the LA Rams have more questions to work out this week.