THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Unfortunate as the setback of losing Cam Akers to a torn Achilles eight days before the start of training camp was, the timing of the injury gave the Rams plenty of time to assess how they wanted to handle the running back room moving forward, whether that meant adding "reinforcements," according to general manager Les Snead, or sticking with their current backfield.
A little over a month after evaluating their current options, the Rams arrived at the former, acquiring running back Sony Michel in a trade with the Patriots early Wednesday morning.
"Early in the down, we identified Sony for many reasons," Snead said during a video conference Wednesday. "Number one being his experience – meaning a player who's carried the ball in those big games, big moments, big drives, big series. The experience of where he played and how he was coached. He was one of those players that if we were going to go the route of experience, he was someone that we were definitely eyeing from the start."
When Rams head coach Sean McVay was asked at the start of training camp if they would pursue a more experienced option on the free agent market in wake of Akers' injury, McVay indicated there wasn't a rush to do so. The Rams would indeed take their time to look at their current options on the roster, using competitive situations in their own practices as well as joint practices with the Cowboys and Raiders as key evaluation opportunities. Instead of going through free agency, though, they acquired that experience via trade.
Michel has 38 career games under his belt, most among the Rams' current running backs followed by Darrell Henderson Jr.'s 28 and Xavier Jones' 13. It also provides much-needed depth to the group in wake of running back Raymond Calais suffering a foot injury against the Raiders last weekend.
Beyond the experience, Michel also offers a skillset that will complement the Rams' current running backs.
"That's going to be a complementary backfield," Snead said. "What he does bring is this element of make a cut, get north and south and get north and south with some force. The physics that he brings to the table – let's call it a flavor of genre that we felt like complemented our group."
When asked if the Rams see Michel coming in and being a starting back or complementing Henderson, Snead deferred to McVay.
"I don't think we ever really talked through who starts, who doesn't, things like that," Snead said. "I think big picture, conceptually, we felt like, 'Okay, if we can add someone like Sony, a veteran, number one, come here, learn the offense. Number two, be a complement to Darrell, Jake (Funk) and Xavier (Jones), the guys we have here.' And then from there, figure out what each player does best and then go into Chicago. ... The roles would probably evolve, but Sean may have a more specific answer to that."
For now, according to Snead, the goal is to get Michel to Los Angeles this evening, and then get him with running backs coach/assistant head coach Thomas Brown to start learning the playbook as soon as possible.
Take a look back through the career of the newest Los Angeles Rams running back Sony Michel.
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) strikes a pose after rushing for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs for yardage in action against the Indianapolis Colts Thursday October 4, 2018 in Foxboro, Mass. (Damian Strohmeyer via (AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) celebrates his first NFL touchdown in action against the Miami Dolphins Sunday September 30, 2018 in Foxboro, Mass. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 35-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs before an NFL regular season football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh. The Steelers won, 17-10. (Ric Tapia via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs for q touchdown in action against the Indianapolis Colts Thursday October 4, 2018 in Foxboro, Mass. (Damian Strohmeyer via (AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) carries the ball during an NFL game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sep. 23, 2018 in Detroit. (Aaron Doster via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) dives into the end zone for a touchdown during an NFL football AFC Divisional playoff game on Sunday, January 13, 2019 in Foxborough. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs for yardage during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Jets 28-14. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) celebrates his third touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs upfield during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 34-10. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs against Kansas City Chiefs defense during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla ( Tom DiPace via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs away from Miami Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso (47) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. The Patriots won 34-13. (Aaron Doster via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel runs from Buffalo Bills defenders Kyle Williams (95) and Levi Wallace (47) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots' Sony Michel runs the ball against the Washington Football Team during an NFL preseason football game at Gillette Stadium, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) leaps over Los Angeles Chargers strong safety Jahleel Addae (37) in an NFL division football playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs during the AFC championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (Greg Trott via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) carries the ball during an an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Houston. Houston won 28-22. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel, right, gives a stiff arm to Dallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones as he carries the ball in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots' Sony Michel (26) dives for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) lines up in the backfield during a week 15 NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh won 17-10. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel celebrates his touchdown with James White, right, in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel carries the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
