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 |
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The Lions found a complementary back to Jahvid Best in Mikel Leshoure, and he could provide a spark as a rookie.
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Fairley shocking DL developments in Detroit
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Teams to begin offseason workouts next week
With the news that the league year will start on Friday morning, teams are notifying their players that offseason workouts will begin shortly.
Draft Dose: Who needs an outside linebacker?
In the 30th installment of the Draft Dose series, PFW takes a look at 10 teams in need of an outside linebacker like Texas A&M's Von Miller.
Don’t overlook pass rusher for Lions
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Draft countdown: Pick No. 13
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Prince Amukamara's draft diary, Part Seven
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Lions' RB interest unrelated to Best
Keen Lions fans have noticed that the team has done a lot of homework on this year's crop of running backs, something that has elicited mild surprise.
Lions regain draft pick
The Lions have won an appeal with the NFL and will have an extra seventh-round pick this season but lose a pick in that round in 2012, the league announced on Thursday.
Lions lose assistant secondary coach to college
Daron Roberts, who had been the Lions' assistant secondary coach, has left the team to take a coaching position at the University of West Virginia, according to ESPN.
Lions' Schwartz has confidence in Stafford's rehab
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NFC team needs
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No change to rule that cost Lions victory
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Lions' Hanson hopes to return in 2011
PFW visited with injured Lions PK Jason Hanson last week, and he said his rehab from the MCL injury that ended his 2010 season has been gradual but productive.
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.
