Even after the 2026 NFL Draft, some pundits are urging the Seattle Seahawks to add more experience to the offensive backfield. Instead, the Seahawks moved on from one of their more experienced running backs in Cam Akers to begin this week.
The Seahawks announced on the team’s official website they released Akers on Monday.
“The move frees up a roster space following a draft in which the Seahawks added eight players, meaning Seattle now has 82 players on their roster not including undrafted rookie free agents, who will sign prior to the start of this week’s rookie minicamp,” wrote Seahawks.com’s John Boyle.
Akers won a Super Bowl ring with the Seahawks, spending the postseason on the team’s practice squad. The team elevated him from the practice squad for two of the playoffs games, but he didn’t get a snap.
Akers appeared in three games for Seattle during the 2025 regular season. He didn’t record a touch on offense.
On special teams, he returned two kickoffs for a total of 54 yards.
This offseason, he was initially part of the group of running backs that could help replace Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker. The Seahawks, though, added Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price at No. 32 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Without Akers, the Seahawks have six running backs remaining on their offseason roster.
Seahawks Release Veteran RB Cam Akers
Akers was an intriguing name to watch in the Seattle backfield this offseason. Not only was that because of Walker’s departure, but Akers was once a rising star running back in the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams.
As a rookie, Akers ran for 625 yards and two touchdowns in 2020. The following training camp, though, Akers tore an Achilles tendon. But he worked incredibly hard to return, expediting the typical 12-month recovery process from that type of injury to five months. Akers returned for the final 2021 regular season game and the playoffs.
That postseason, the Rams won the Super Bowl with Akers leading the team with 67 rushing attempts.
Akers returned healthy in 2022 and posted a career-best 786 rushing yards with seven touchdowns.
The running back, though, was never able to repeat that success again. He struggled to find a role with the Rams early in 2023. The team traded him to the Minnesota Vikings in September.
Over the next couple seasons, he bounced around the league between the Vikings, Houston Texans, and New Orleans Saints before landing in Seattle.
With an open backfield in Seattle, Akers seemingly had one more chance to prove he could be a featured NFL back. But even before having the opportunity to show that in offseason workouts, the Seahawks released Akers to give the team roster space likely for another position.
Seahawks Running Back Depth Entering NFL Offseason Workouts
Without Akers, the Seahawks are moving forward with running backs Zach Charbonnet, Emanuel Wilson, Jadarian Price, George Holani, Kenny McIntosh and Jacardia Wright on their roster.
Charbonnet sustained a serious knee injury during the NFL playoffs. So he won’t be participating in any offseason workouts.
But once healthy, Charbonnet and Wilson could split the backfield with new first-rounder Price sprinkled in as well.
Of course, that’s subject to change based on offseason performance. Price could have a terrific chance to run with the RB1 job given his draft position and Charbonnet’s projected absence this summer.
Akers departs Seattle with 2,044 career rushing yards. He’s played in 59 regular season NFL games.
Seahawks Announce Suddenly Parting Ways With Veteran Running Back