Akers could see a drop in touches and snaps in Sunday's game against New England, as Dameon Pierce (hamstring) carries no injury designation and Joe Mixon (ankle) is listed as questionable on the Texans' injury report.

EDGE Analysis

Pierce's status indicates he could take over as the lead back, a role that Akers filled the last four weeks. The questionable tag for Mixon, the club's No. 1 back, represents an improvement after being ruled out the last four weeks. The potential return for both backs, which should suggest a marginal role for Akers, could actually make him inactive. That was his status in Week 1, the lone game in which both Mixon and Pierce suited up.

Akers may not be the Texans' lead back Week 6 against the Patriots, if the report from Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston that Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is expected to play holds up over the next few days.

EDGE Analysis

Pierce, who has been sidelined the last four games, practiced Wednesday in a limited fashion, but head coach DeMeco Ryans was optimistic about the running back's chances to play Sunday. "He's done a great job with his rehab process and he's back out working, so we're expecting to have him ready to go for the game," Ryans said. Akers and Dare Ogunbowale have shared the backfield snaps while both Pierce and Joe Mixon (ankle) were unavailable the last four weeks. Akers has posted modest numbers during that stretch, including a rushing touchdown, a receiving score and several red-zone touches.

Akers rushed nine times for 42 yards and a touchdown while catching two of three targets for five yards in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Bills.

EDGE Analysis

Dare Ogunbowale got the first five touches among Texans running backs, but Akers made the most of his first two opportunities once he checked in, breaking off an 11-yard run immediately followed by a 15-yard touchdown run. Neither Texans running back found much running room after that point, and while Akers finished as the team's leading rusher, he had only 11 touches to Ogunbowale's 21. If the Texans get Joe Mixon (ankle) or Dameon Pierce (hamstring) back against the Patriots in Week 6, Akers and Ogunbowale would likely both see reductions in usage.

Akers is expected to serve as the Texans' starting running back due to Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) being inactive for Sunday's game against the Bills.

EDGE Analysis

While Mixon and Pierce remain sidelined for their third and fourth straight games, respectively, Akers appears poised to lead the Houston backfield once again, with Dare Ogunbowale and J.J. Taylor on hand behind Akers for change-of-pace work. In the team's 24-20 win over the Jaguars last weekend, Akers carried 13 times for 53 yards and was not targeted in the passing game. Meanwhile, Taylor logged six carries for 18 yards and Ogunbowale rushed twice for seven yards and caught all four of his targets for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Akers may be see Dameon Pierce (hamstring) added back to the Texans backfield Sunday against the Bills, as the latter is questionable to play in the contest, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

EDGE Analysis

While Joe Mixon (ankle) will miss a third game in a row this weekend, Pierce put himself in a position to return for the first time since Week 1 after logging a limited practice Friday. If Pierce is active Sunday, he won't necessarily take on a large workload, considering Akers has been preparing for a third consecutive start, per Wilson. However, in such a scenario, Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale would be on hand for any RB reps that don't go to Akers. In Weeks 3 and 4, Akers combined for 22 carries for 74 yards and caught one of three targets for an eight-yard touchdown.

Akers is preparing to be the Texans' lead back Week 5 against the Bills, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

EDGE Analysis

Akers is poised to be the No. 1 back for a third consecutive game, as both Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) have been non-participants this week. Meanwhile, Akers, Dare Ogunbowale and J.J. Taylor haven't been listed on Houston's injury report. Akers has 106 yards on 29 carries (3.7 YPC) and caught two of four targets for 11 yards and a touchdown this season. That includes two red-zone carries and one target inside the 20-yard line, on which he scored.

Akers carried the ball 13 times for 53 yards in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Jaguars.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran running back made his second straight start due to both Joe Mixon (ankle), and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) being unavailable, and Akers was a little more effective on the ground than he was last week. The receiving TD he used to salvage his Week 3 performance went to Dare Ogunbowale this time around, however. Akers' role and volume in Week 5 against the Bills will be dependent on the health of the two RBs ahead of him on the Houston depth chart.

Akers carried the ball nine times for 21 yards and caught one of three targets for an eight-yard touchdown in Sunday's 34-7 loss to the Vikings.

EDGE Analysis

The game got away from the Texans early, and Akers was bottled up when Houston tried to get its ground attack going. The running back did haul in a third-quarter TD from C.J. Stroud, however, which was his first score of the season. Akers' lead role Sunday was the result of an ankle injury to Joe Mixon, and if Mixon is able to return in Week 4 against the Jaguars, Akers' touch volume will almost certainly decline.

Akers is expected to take on an expanded workload Sunday against the Vikings with Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) both inactive.

EDGE Analysis

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network relays that Akers is in line to get the starting nod Sunday, with Dare Ogunbowale, British Brooks and J.J. Taylor available as depth options behind him. Akers was inactive for Week 1 while completing his recovery from a torn Achilles' tendon but was productive in a backup role behind Mixon in the Week 2 win over the Bears, carrying seven times for 32 yards while reeling in his lone target for a three-yard gain, though he did fumble once during a key point of the game.

Akers is preparing to start Sunday's game against the Vikings, as Joe Mixon (ankle) is listed as doubtful and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) has been ruled out, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Akers got seven carries Week 2 against the Bears, as Mixon spent part of the game in the locker room tending to his ankle injury and Pierce didn't play. The former Rams and Vikings running back rushed for 32 yards on those rushes but also lost a fumble by the goal line. Akers should get first crack at the lead role Sunday against one of his former teams barring the unlikely event of Mixon suiting up after all, but if ball security issues arise again, Dare Ogunbowale or British Brooks could get more opportunities at Akers' expense.