Rams give Cam Akers the start, but running back ‘rotation’ is in play - OCRegister

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• Quarterback Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams passes against the Dallas Cowboys n the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Running back Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for a first down against cornerback Jalen Ramsey #20 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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• Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd #54 of the Los Angeles Rams pressures quarterback Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Running back Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Wide receiver Cooper Kupp #10 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass for a first down against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Quarterback Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams prepares to pass against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Wide receiver Robert Woods #17 of the Los Angeles Rams leaps for the first down against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Kicker Sam Sloman #1 of the Los Angeles Rams misses a field goal attempt against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Quarterback Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams passes against the Dallas Cowboys n the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Tight end Tyler Higbee #89 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass for a first down against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Tight end Blake Jarwin #89 of the Dallas Cowboys catches a pass for a first down against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones looks on against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Quarterback Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Running back Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams runs past defensive tackle Trysten Hill #72 of the Dallas Cowboys for a first down in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Running back Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams dives for yardage against outside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams reacts against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Running back Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams dives for the touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Wide receiver Van Jefferson #12 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass over cornerback Trevon Diggs #27 of the Dallas Cowboys for a first down in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Running back Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams runs past defensive tackle Trysten Hill #72 of the Dallas Cowboys for a first down in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Quarterback Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys is sacked by the ]Los Angeles Rams defense in the first half of a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• The Los Angeles Rams owners box during the National Anthem prior to a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Los Angeles Rams take the field in front of an empty stadium prior to a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Los Angeles Rams take the field in front of an empty stadium prior to a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Los Angeles Rams kneel next to quarterback quarterback Jared Goff #16 during the National Anthem prior to a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Los Angeles Rams kneel next to quarterback quarterback Jared Goff #16 during the National Anthem prior to a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

• Los Angeles Rams take the field in front of an empty stadium prior to a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

INGLEWOOD — The long-awaited answer to the question of who would start the season as the Rams’ No. 1 running back had more than one answer.

It was Cam Akers who started. But Malcolm Brown was No. 1 on short yardage and opened the scoring against the Dallas Cowboys with a 1-yard tumble into the end zone. And Darrell Henderson got a brief turn to be No. 1 before the first quarter was out, and converted on third and short.

Rams coach Sean McVay followed through on his stated plan for a “three-back rotation,” or what Goff has called a “three-headed monster,” trying to make the trio’s individual strengths add up to one vintage Todd Gurley.

The division of labor for the three running backs is likely to evolve, likely with the aim of Akers using his second-round draft-choice pedigree to become No. 1 by himself sooner or later.

But in the first half Sunday, the aim was clear.

Brown finished the half with 48 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, Akers with 22 yards on eight attempts, and Henderson, who missed two weeks of practice with a hamstring pull, three yards on two carries.

Statement game

Rams players wore the words “It Takes All of Us” on the back of their helmets, and the SoFi Stadium field’s end lines were painted with that message and “End Racism.”

On a day when social-justice demonstrations by NFL teams and players took many forms, 15 Rams players knelt during “The Star Spangled Banner.”

During the playing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” about 30 minutes before kickoff, linebacker Micah Kiser and offensive lineman David Edwards were the only Rams on the field, while it appeared all Cowboys players stood across one goal line.

At other games, teams locked arms, raised fists, knelt or stayed off the field for “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” sometimes called the Black anthem. Seahawks and Falcons players took to one knee after the opening kickoff.

SoFi firsts

It had never been done before at SoFi Stadium:

First kickoff: Dallas’ Greg Zuerlein booted it into the end zone and the Rams’ Nsimba Webster let it go.

First pass: Jared Goff to Robert Woods for 20 yards to midfield.

First sack: Aaron Donald brought down Dallas’ Dak Prescott for an 8-yard loss.

First points: Malcolm Brown tumbled in for a 1-yard touchdown.

Breathing allowed

After a few days of concern, smoke from the California wildfires didn’t interfere with the Rams-Cowboys game.

Shortly before kickoff, the official air quality index was 144 for the Inglewood area, which translates to “unhealthy.” But it would have to reach 200 before the NFL would prohibit play.

Ex-Rams watch

Todd Gurley rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in his first game with Atlanta, a loss to Seattle on Sunday. That’s amazingly like his per-game average with the Rams last season: 57.1 yards on 14.9 carries.

Linebacker Dante Fowler had four tackles and was credited with half a sack for the Falcons.

Linebacker Cory Littleton had five tackles for the Las Vegas Raiders in a victory at Carolina.

Next

The Rams go to Philadelphia next Sunday to face the Eagles (10 a.m., Channel 11), who blew a 17-point lead and lost their opener at Washington.

Rams opponents this season went 6-5 Sunday. NFC West rivals Seattle and Arizona won, the Cardinals beating San Francisco.

This report will be updated.

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