Rams head coach Sean McVay is ready to welcome back Cam Akers, if the running back would like to return.

The Rams turned down trade offers for Akers, McVay said, and are in talks with his agent to get him back in the fold.

McVay said Oct. 17 it was time for Akers to find a “fresh start with another team,” and detailed the Rams’ plan to help him find one. When no trade partners offered the bounty the Rams were hoping for before Tuesday’s trade deadline, McVay decided it was time to pull a U-turn.

Akers played in the first five games of the 2022 season and started two. But then he missed multiple days of practice, citing “personal” reasons, and did not suit up for the Rams’ 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers. He hasn’t been with the team since.

The next day, McVay said, “I think the best option for all parties I think would be to explore if there’s a good situation for him with another team. If that doesn’t come to fruition, I would never say that him coming back and figuring out the best way to be able utilize him and him being the best player he’s capable of is off the table. I would never speak in absolutes like that.”

Akers was the Rams’ second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has played only 19 games (seven starts) for the team in two-plus years after missing most of the 2021 regular season with a torn Achilles.

When he was on the field this season, Akers gained 151 yards on 51 carries and scored one touchdown. For his career, he’s recorded 779 yards, three rushing touchdowns and a receiving score. He added two rushing touchdowns in the 2020 playoffs.

The Rams still have Darrell Henderson as their starting running back with Malcolm Brown also on the depth chart.

–Field Level Media

The Green Bay Packers are trying to prevent their season from sliding into the abyss. The Detroit Lions seem to already be raising the white flag.

The good news for one of these teams — barring an unlikely tie — is that a losing streak will be broken when they face each other in Detroit on Sunday.

Green Bay (3-5), which is completing a three-game road swing, has dropped four straight. Detroit (1-6) occupies its usual spot at the bottom of the NFC North after losing five straight.

Trailing first-place Minnesota by 3 1/2 games, the Packers may have already dug themselves too deep of a hole to win the division. A wild-card spot is still very much within reach, but they can’t afford many more slip-ups.

“We’ve displayed, at times, some good level of football but it’s just been too inconsistent,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. “I don’t think it’s been complementary football all the time. We realize it’s an imperfect game but when one side of the ball isn’t producing as you would like, the other side’s got to pick it up.”

Injuries on the defensive side have been challenging but the Packers haven’t allowed more than 27 points in any game, including their 27-17 loss to Buffalo and its high-octane attack on Sunday night.

Offensively, Aaron Rodgers still hasn’t found a reliable No. 1 receiving threat. Allen Lazard, who leads the team with a modest 340 receiving yards, missed the Bills game due to a shoulder injury but practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. Rodgers is averaging a meager, by his standards, 225 passing yards per game.

The running back duo of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon has only reached the end zone twice on the ground.

“Right now, we’re not scoring enough points,” LaFleur said.

The Lions defeated the Packers 37-30 in Detroit last season, snapping Green Bay’s five-game winning streak in the series.

“We’ve struggled at Ford Field many times,” LaFleur said. “This is a really good offense and they play extremely hard in all three phases.”

Detroit no longer has a dynamic receiving threat at tight end. The front office dealt away T.J. Hockenson to the Vikings at the trade deadline for draft pick compensation.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes realizes the trade doesn’t look good from a fan’s perspective.

“It’s the regular season right now, so players being acquired, that’s exciting,” Holmes said. “Draft picks, that’s not exciting right now. It’s not draft season. I don’t think anyone gives a damn about draft picks that we get. I understand that.”

Hockenson had a 58-yard reception against Miami during a wild first half on Sunday when the teams scored a combined 44 points. The Lions were shut out in the second half as the Dolphins rallied for a 31-27 victory.

Detroit head coach Dan Campbell said it will take a collective effort to replace Hockenson.

“What I have to judge is where does his production go now?” he said. “I have to feel OK with that production going to (Aman-Ra) St. Brown, Kalif (Raymond), (Josh) Reynolds, (D’Andre) Swift, another carry for Jamaal (Williams) and the other tight ends.”

The Lions also have to tighten up a defense that allowed 382 passing yards to Tua Tagovailoa last week.

“We know the damage that can be done with (Rodgers),” Campbell said. “Certainly, trying to close the pocket in on him will go a long way (toward slowing him) and we’ve got to challenge their receivers.”

Swift (ankle, shoulder) and tight end Brock Wright (concussion) were among the Lions who didn’t practice on Wednesday.

Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (knee) and receiver Christian Watson (concussion) are among the Packers who didn’t practice.

–Field Level Media

Turning frustration into something fruitful is going to be crucial for the Carolina Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals.

The teams are trying to pull themselves up in different manners. The chance to secure a more positive outcome Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati should be enticing for both squads.

The Bengals (4-4) are trying to recover from Monday night’s 32-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

“There will be a lot of people looking at themselves figuring out what they can do individually to be better and that’s how you get out of situations like this,” Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard said.

The Panthers (2-6) had a chance for a dramatic victory turn sour in Atlanta with an overtime setback.

Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks said he senses the players have supported each other in the days since the disturbing overtime loss in Atlanta, where Carolina had multiple chances to pull out a victory before falling.

“We can’t let a loss like that travel with us into this week,” Carolina quarterback P.J. Walker said.

The Panthers are sticking with Walker even though opening-game starter Baker Mayfield is back from an injury and available.

“It’s getting comfortable with the guys,” Walker said. “As we go forward, just gaining more confidence with the guys. It has been an up and down couple of weeks. … The coaches trust me. My teammates trust me.”

Still, it’s a work in progress.

“I think the chemistry is building,” Wilks said of the link between Walker and the receivers.

The good thing for Walker is that running back D’Onta Foreman has been productive in the two games since the trade of Christian McCaffrey. Chuba Hubbard could be Foreman’s backup again after missing last week’s game with an ankle injury. He was limited in practice Wednesday.

Foreman has stepped into the spotlight and given Carolina’s offense a hard-nosed attitude.

“A big, physical back that can tote the rock,” Wilks said. “He can wear the defense down as the game progresses.”

The Bengals came out of the Cleveland game wounded, losing cornerback Chidobe Awuzie to a season-ending knee injury. Cornerback Tre Flowers exited that game with an ailing hamstring and didn’t practice Wednesday. Neither did cornerback Mike Hilton (finger).

It looks like Carolina’s secondary is going to be without safety Juston Burris (concussion), while cornerback Donte Jackson (ankle) missed practice on Wednesday.

The Bengals have already defeated a pair of NFC South teams, besting Atlanta and New Orleans. Those victories were marked by quarterback Joe Burrow’s high passing output. Burrow has thrown for a league-leading 2,329 yards.

Cincinnati’s rushing attack hasn’t kept pace, though, ranking 30th in the league at 81.0 yards per game. That could be connected to an offensive line that hasn’t been in sync, as evidenced by allowing 30 sacks — second-most in the league.

“Starting with their defense, they are really equipped with talent across the board,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said of the Panthers. “It is a team that I don’t really care what their record is. We just watch the tape and we see the issues that they pose.”

Wilks said struggles for the Bengals can’t be taken for granted by the Panthers in their preparation.

“We have to make sure we’re on point in all facets of this football game,” he said.

Carolina is 3-2-1 all-time vs. the Bengals, winning the last matchup in 2018 at home.

–Field Level Media

It’s pretty safe to assume that the Indianapolis Colts will still be navigating through a number of personnel changes when they travel to Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday for a meeting with the New England Patriots.

Over the past two weeks, the Colts (3-4-1) have benched quarterback Matt Ryan, parted ways with offensive coordinator Marcus Brady and traded running Nyheim Hines to the Buffalo Bills.

“I’m not naming an interim coordinator. I’ll handle those duties, I’m the play caller,” Indianapolis coach Frank Reich said. “Ultimately the offense falls on my shoulders. It’s a collaborative effort for sure, but myself and the coordinator always are central to that game planning process and play calling is obviously my deal.”

To say things are hectic in Indianapolis right now would be an understatement.

All that change comes at a time when Sam Ehlinger, who took over for Ryan under center, is trying to find his footing in the NFL.

Ehlinger made his first career start last Sunday against the Washington Commanders and completed 17 of 23 passes for 201 yards. Hines provided the Colts’ only touchdown in what ended up being a 17-16 loss.

Indianapolis’ offense continues to struggle, and the Colts have only scored more than 20 points in one game this season. A lot of those hardships stem from the Colts’ failure to effectively run the ball behind running back Jonathan Taylor.

Taylor put up gaudy numbers in 2021, rushing for 1,811 yards (106.5 per game) and 18 touchdowns. But this season, he’s been limited to 77.0 yards per game (462 total) and has found the end zone just once.

Zack Moss will be joining Taylor in the backfield after coming over from Buffalo in the Hines trade, but Taylor is going to have to shoulder the load if the Colts’ offense is to enjoy a resurgence.

However, Taylor is working through the ankle injury that held him out of Wednesday’s practice and two games earlier this season. He re-aggravated the ankle against Washington last Sunday.

Despite usually being equipped with a formidable defense that is anything but kind to the run, the Patriots (4-4) have allowed the 11th-most rushing yards per game (126.0).

That average was even higher before they suffocated the New York Jets’ ground attack during last Sunday’s 22-17 victory. Four ball carriers combined for just 51 yards on 15 carries in what ended up being Bill Belichick’s 325th win (regular and postseason), making him the second-winningest coach of all-time behind Don Shula (347).

While that’s quite the accomplishment, the time for celebration is over, and New England’s attention has shifted to Sunday’s contest with Indianapolis.

“It’s a well-balanced team,” Belichick said of the Colts. “I think they’ve put together a solid roster that has good players in pretty much every position. … It obviously starts with Taylor, and (Michael) Pittman, the offensive line, coach Reich, play calling, scheme — they do a good job.”

The Patriots could be without center David Andrews (concussion) and running back Damien Harris (illness), as both missed Wednesday’s practice. Wide receiver DeVante Parker was also a non-participant with a knee injury.

Safeties Kyle Dugger (ankle) and Adrian Phillips (shoulder) were limited.

Former New England cornerback Stephon Gilmore (rib) was one of eight Colts who didn’t practice Wednesday. Linebacker Grant Stuard (pectoral) was also out.

–Field Level Media

The Houston Texans ruled out wide receiver Nico Collins for Thursday’s game against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.

Collins, 23, did not practice at all during the short week while nursing a groin injury.

He has 18 catches for 305 yards in six games for the Texans (1-5-1).

Collins joined safety Grayland Arnold (quad), defensive lineman Maliek Collins (chest), linebacker Neville Hewitt (hamstring) and offensive lineman Justin McCray (concussion) in being ruled out for the contest against the Eagles (7-0).

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks (wrist) did not participate in practice for the second straight day on Wednesday and was listed as questionable for the contest.

Linebacker Christian Harris (thigh) and defensive back Desmond King II (knee) are also questionable to play on Thursday.

–Field Level Media