Cam Akers Traded Back to Minnesota

It’s a reunion in Minneapolis this week as the Minnesota Vikings have made a familiar move to bolster their running back position by acquiring Cam Akers in a trade for the second consecutive year. On Tuesday, the Vikings finalized an agreement to send a late draft pick to the Houston Texans, aiming to enhance their depth at this critical position, which has been riddled with injuries. This trade follows the Vikings' previous acquisition of Akers from the Los Angeles Rams just two weeks into the 2023 season.

During his first stint with the Vikings, Akers contributed by playing in six games behind starting running back Alexander Mattison. In that time, he accumulated 138 yards and scored a touchdown on 38 rushing attempts, showing flashes of his potential to positively impact the game. However, Akers faced major setbacks due to injuries, including a tear of his left Achilles tendon in Week 9, adding to his injury history, which includes a similar injury to his right Achilles tendon from his time with the Rams in 2021.

The recent trade was driven by the return of key players for the Texans, namely Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce, which pushed Akers further down the depth chart. Additionally, the Vikings' starting running back, Aaron Jones, is sidelined with an injury, leaving Minnesota in need of a solid replacement during his absence. This trade not only highlights the Vikings' dedication to strengthening their roster but also emphasizes Akers' journey through recovery and his potential to regain form. As the Vikings look to remain competitive, Akers’ experience and ability could provide much-needed support to their backfield and contribute to their offensive strategy.