Detroit Lions
David Akers - K
| Status | Active |
| Height/Weight | 5' 10"/ 200 lbs. |
| Birthday | 12/09/1974 |
| Birthplace | Lexington, KY |
| College | Louisville |
| Years played | 15 |
Lions' strengths stand out in victory
The Lions' second-half surge to beat Chicago displayed Detroit's many strengths — and featured a big contribution from a part of the offense that had struggled.
The First Fifteen: Week Six
Taking a look at some of the key Week Six matchups, including Eagles-Redskins, Patriots-Cowboys, Falcons-Panthers and, yes, Lions-49ers.
Lions beat Bears, improve to 5-0
Jahvid Best's 88-yard run in the third quarter powered Detroit to a 24-13 win over Chicago on Monday night, giving the Lions a three-game edge over the Bears in the standings.
Injury report for Bears-Lions MNF game
Here is the injury report for the Week Five Monday-night game, Chicago at Detroit, showing the status of each injured player.
Lions rookie Young carving out key role
Lions rookie WR Titus Young is gaining QB Matthew Stafford's confidence, according to NFC Whispers.
Bears-Lions matchup of the day: Thursday
Ndamukong Suh's combination of speed and strength could force the Bears to double-team him frequently Monday night.
Report: Lions sign veteran S Fuller
According to multiple reports, the Lions signed veteran S Vincent Fuller on Wednesday.
An early look at Johnson's future in Detroit
Lions WR Calvin Johnson, who has played like an MVP candidate, is set to be a free agent in 2012. We take a closer look at his contract situation.
The First Fifteen: Week Five
Here's an early look at the Week Five action, the first shortened (and the bye isn't coming at a great time for a few teams) week of the 2011 NFL season.
Now we know contenders, pretenders
Week Four confirmed much of what we had suspected, including that the Lions are for real and Calvin Johnson is the NFL's most dominant player.
Readers say Lions are best of 2011 surprise teams
Respondents to a PFW web poll asking, "Which surprise team has the best chance of reaching the Super Bowl?" believe that the Lions are the best bet.
Stafford, defense rally Lions past Cowboys
After overcoming a 24-point deficit, Lions QB Matthew Stafford found WR Calvin Johnson for a late TD as Detroit beat the Cowboys 34-30 in Week Four.
Lions' ORT play has been lacking
The Lions have far few areas of concern compared to past seasons, but their ORT play has not been a strength thus far.
The First Fifteen: Week Four
Time for Chris Johnson to step up, dissecting the 3-0 Lions, awaiting the fun that is Ravens-Jets and plenty of other tidbits to look for in Sunday's upcoming games.
Lions' comeback win important on multiple levels
Above all else, the Lions' comeback win at Minnesota allowed them to keep pace with Green Bay in the NFC North.
PLAYER NEWS
The Detroit Lions have added Akers one day after Jason Hanson retired.|||||||
San Francisco released Akers a month ago after he slumped during the 2012 season. The six-time Pro Bowl kicker made 73 of 94 field goals over two seasons for the 49ers. He underwent double hernia surgery in February 2012 then aggravated the area during the season when he slipped on the field during practice. Akers has made 367 of 453 field goals in his career with Washington, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
Six-time Pro Bowl kicker David Akers has been released by the San Francisco 49ers after two seasons filled with record-breaking highs and incredible lows. General Manager Trent Baalke thanked Akers in a statement Wednesday, calling him a "true professional who represented himself and this organization with class." Akers appeared in all 32 regular-season games and five playoff contests the past two seasons. He connected on 73 of 94 field goal attempts and all 78 PATs.|||||||
In 2011, Akers set NFL records with 44 field goals made and 52 attempted. He also tied the league mark for the longest made when he kicked from 63 yards in last season's opener at Green Bay. But Akers made just 29 of 44 attempts last season, his lowest percentage since 1999. The 49ers even brought in Billy Cundiff to compete against Akers before the divisional-round playoff and NFC championship game.
Akers calls his struggles this season a "head scratcher" and says if the 49ers win the Super Bowl it will erase all of his 14 misses this season.|||||||
Akers missed an NFL-worst 13 field goals this season and then hit the upright on a 38-yarder in last week's NFC championship game at Atlanta. He says he feels like he is kicking the ball well and he's off by a matter of inches, which is frustrating because "an inch is a mile in our game."
Akers is keeping his job as San Francisco's starting kicker. For now, anyway.|||||||
Jim Harbaugh made the announcement after practice Thursday, two days ahead of the 49ers' NFC divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers (12-5) at Candlestick Park. The 49ers signed Billy Cundiff on Jan. 1 to compete with Akers, a 15-year veteran who has struggled this season while making only 29 of 42 field-goal attempts. Akers revealed last week he underwent double hernia surgery last February.
Akers and Billy Cundiff were taking their competition to be San Francisco's playoff kicker to Candlestick Park on Monday.|||||||
Coach Jim Harbaugh says there's a "good chance" both kickers will be on the roster for Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, though he didn't specify whether each would be active. Harbaugh indicated "we have a leader in the clubhouse," but wouldn't say who it is.
