A week before training camp starts, the Los Angeles Rams were hit with devastating news. Starting running back Cam Akers suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon while working out. The Injury will force him out for the entire 2021 season. Akers rushed for 561 rushing yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season. Akers was on track to be the Rams featured running back and was poised for a breakout season. However, with Akers out, it is time for Darrell Henderson Jr. to shine.
The Rams drafted Henderson in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he was expected to be a game-changer. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out like that. After a break-out season his junior year in Memphis, where Henderson rushed for 1,909 yards and 23 touchdowns, the running back had a disappointing rookie year, rushing only for 147 yards and no touchdowns in 13 games.
Last year Henderson was much better; he rushed for 624 yards on 138 carries. He also posted five rushing touchdowns. In weeks two and three combined, Henderson rushed for 195 yards. The former Memphis running back caught 16 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown for the season. Henderson was placed on injured reserve in week 16 with a high ankle sprain.
When drafted, Henderson was seen as a change of pace back; now, he will carry the load. Henderson can get outside the tackles in the run game and catch passes out the backfield. The running back will need to come to training camp healthy; he was slowed during the off-season workouts with an undisclosed injury.
Henderson is the only running back on the Rams roster with NFL experience. Los Angeles has late-round draft picks and undrafted free agent running backs in the running back room with Henderson. Xavier Jones, Raymond Calais, Jake Funk, and Otis Anderson will be all competing for jobs.
Henderson is in a prime situation to showcase what he can do; but there are more than a few veteran running backs the Rams could sign as well. Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell, and LeSean McCoy are all currently looking for a new home. All aren’t exactly in the prime of their careers anymore, however if the Rams in house options struggle during training camp, expect McVay and company to kick the tires on the veteran backs.
Barring a late veteran signing, everything currently points towards Henderson being the featured back in Los Angeles. What he makes out of this opportunity will likely dictate how much longer his career in the NFL lasts. No pressure Darrell.
-LaMarr Fields
Twitter: @raiderway83