Akers rushed five times for 13 yards and brought in both targets for 18 yards and a touchdown in the Texans' 21-17 preseason loss to the Bears on Thursday.
Aaron Rodgers' lightning-fast recovery from his Week 1 Achilles tear last season rightfully garnered plenty of attention, but Akers has now overcome the same injury on each leg in well under a year on both occasions. His return to the field Thursday night came just under nine months from when he suffered his most recent tear in Week 9 of last season while with the Vikings. Akers had already been practicing with the Texans since signing July 21, and although his rushing line doesn't reflect it, the 2020 second-round pick looked decisive and explosive when attacking the line of scrimmage Thursday. Akers also made his modest opportunities through the air count, crossing the goal line on a four-yard reception just before halftime. Akers is presumably battling the likes of Dare Ogunbowale, rookie sixth-round pick Jawhar Jordan and J.J. Taylor for the No. 3 running back job in Houston, and Thursday's performance was an encouraging start to his quest.