Minnesota Vikings trade for running back Cam Akers for the second consecutive year, sending a late-round pick to the Houston Texans
The Minnesota Vikings have traded for running back Cam Akers for the second year in a row. On Tuesday, they agreed to send a late draft pick to the Houston Texans to add more depth to their running back position.
This trade depends on Akers passing a physical exam. The Vikings will give the Texans a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2026 draft in exchange for Akers and a conditional seventh-round pick in the same draft.
Akers was drafted in the second round by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 when Kevin O’Connell, the current Vikings coach, was their offensive coordinator.
Akers joined the Vikings in a trade with the Rams on September 20, 2023, and had 138 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards in six games before suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon injury.
This year, Akers signed with the Texans after considering a return to the Vikings. He managed to get 147 rushing yards and 16 receiving yards in five games, stepping in for the injured Joe Mixon.
In his five NFL seasons, Akers has recorded 1,728 rushing yards and 336 receiving yards. He led the league with 67 rushing attempts during the 2021 playoffs, helping the Rams win the Super Bowl.
The Vikings might be without their starting running back, Aaron Jones Sr., this week due to a hip injury he suffered in the last game. Ty Chandler is next in line to take his place.
With Joe Mixon missing three games and Dameon Pierce missing four, the Houston Texans were relying on Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale as their primary backs.
Ogunbowale was utilized more as a receiving back and even had a game-winning touchdown catch in Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Akers did more running between the tackles and had 53 yards on 13 carries in the win over the Jags. He added 42 yards and a touchdown on nine attempts against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5.
Then, Akers was relegated to the bench against the New England Patriots as Mixon and Pierce were back. Mixon ran for 102 yards, and Pierce had 76. Their return to health gave the front office enough confidence to move Akers on Tuesday as he was sent to the Minnesota Vikings in a trade.
