EAGAN, Minn. — A former Vikings running back is coming back to Minnesota.
The team on Tuesday announced it has agreed to terms of a trade with the Houston Texans that will return Cam Akers and a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick. The agreement is dependent on Akers passing a physical.
The deal to acquire Akers is happening a year and a month after Minnesota acquired him from the Los Angeles Rams in September 2023. It also is nearly a month since Akers played against the Vikings in Week 3.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of October 15, 2024.
3 WR Jordan Addison
RB Cam Akers
RB Cam Akers
6 LB Brian Asamoah II
6 LB Brian Asamoah II
56 C Garrett Bradbury
56 C Garrett Bradbury
64 G Blake Brandel
64 G Blake Brandel
90 DL Jonathan Bullard
90 DL Jonathan Bullard
24 S Camryn Bynum
24 S Camryn Bynum
51 LB Blake Cashman
51 LB Blake Cashman
32 RB Ty Chandler
32 RB Ty Chandler
14 QB Sam Darnold
QB Sam Darnold
71 T Christian Darrisaw
71 T Christian Darrisaw
42 LS Andrew DePaola
42 LS Andrew DePaola
21 CB Akayleb Evans
21 CB Akayleb Evans
69 C/G Dan Feeney
69 C Dan Feeney
37 RB Myles Gaskin
37 RB Myles Gaskin
2 CB Stephon Gilmore
2 CB Stephon Gilmore
58 OLB Jonathan Greenard
58 OLB Jonathan Greenard
1 CB Shaq Griffin
1 CB Shaq Griffin
54 LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
54 LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
30 FB C.J. Ham
30 FB C.J. Ham
67 G Ed Ingram
67 G Ed Ingram
26 S Theo Jackson
26 S Theo Jackson
8 WR Trishton Jackson
WR Trishton Jackson
18 WR Justin Jefferson
18 WR Justin Jefferson
33 RB Aaron Jones
33 RB Aaron Jones
91 OLB Pat Jones II
91 OLB Pat Jones II
65 OL Michael Jurgens
65 G Michael Jurgens
29 CB Dwight McGlothern
29 CB Dwight McGlothern
44 S Josh Metellus
44 S Joshua Metellus
23 CB Fabian Moreau
23 CB Fabian Moreau
12 QB Nick Mullens
12 QB Nick Mullens
86 TE Johnny Mundt
86 TE Johnny Mundt
7 CB Byron Murphy
7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.
83 WR Jalen Nailor
83 WR Jalen Nailor
75 T Brian O'Neill
75 T Brian O'Neill
84 TE Josh Oliver
84 TE Josh Oliver
0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.
0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.
57 DL Harrison Phillips
97 DL Harrison Phillips
4 WR Brandon Powell
4 WR Brandon Powell
76 T David Quessenberry
76 T David Quessenberry
16 K Will Reichard
16 K Will Reichard
50 DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
78 T Walter Rouse
78 T Walter Rouse
19 QB Brett Rypien
19 QB Brett Rypien
11 WR Trent Sherfield Sr.
11 WR Trent Sherfield Sr.
22 S Harrison Smith
22 S Harrison Smith
94 DL Taki Taimani
94 DL Taki Taimani
99 DL Jerry Tillery
99 DL Jerry Tillery
15 OLB Dallas Turner
15 OLB Dallas Turner
43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel
43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel
20 S Jay Ward
20 S Jay Ward
52 OLB Jihad Ward
52 OLB Jihad Ward
17 P Ryan Wright
17 P Ryan Wright
Minnesota's aggressive defense was effective in limiting Akers to 21 yards on nine rushes with a long of 9, but Akers did add an 8-yard receiving touchdown for Houston's only score in a 34-7 loss to Minnesota.
Akers will bring experience (particularly already in Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's system) and depth for a running backs room that has featured Aaron Jones, Sr., and Ty Chandler.
Jones suffered a hip injury in Week 5 against the Jets in London. O'Connell listed Jones as "week to week" before Minnesota's Week 6 bye.
After joining the Vikings this offseason, Jones has rushed for 350 yards and a touchdown on 71 carries and added 17 receptions for 167 yards with a score on 20 receiving targets.
Chandler, a third-year pro, has 147 yards on 42 carries and has added 42 receiving yards on six catches (six targets).
Gaskin has played sparingly on offense and helped out with special teams. Fullback C.J. Ham also helped in London. He totaled 10 yards and a touchdown on his first two carries of 2024. Ham has caught both passes directed his way this season for a total of 11 yards and has experience helping out as a pass protector on third downs.
Akers joined Houston this offseason after rehabbing a torn Achilles he suffered in Minnesota's 2023 Week 9 game at Atlanta.
In five games this season, Akers has rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown on 40 carries and added four receptions for 16 yards.
Akers appeared in six games for Minnesota in 2023, rushing for 138 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries and adding 70 yards on 11 catches (12 targets).
O'Connell and Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips overlapped with Akers at the Los Angeles Rams, a run that included helping L.A. win Super Bowl LVI.
