An Old Friend Will Be Available to Vikings at RB
During the Minnesota Vikings 31-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons last weekend, the club lost running back Cam Akers to a ruptured Achilles, the same injury that ended Kirk Cousins’ season in Week 8.
Akers suffered the same injury in 2021.
An Old Friend Will Be Available to Vikings at RB
The club employs Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, and DeWayne McBride at running back, which might be enough, generally speaking. However, if the club wants more RB depth, an old friend became available Tuesday — Myles Gaskin.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted, “Bye-week changes to help make room for Carson Wentz: Rams released RB Myles Gaskin, QB Brett Rypien and QB Dresser Winn.”
Gaskin was stolen by the Rams from the Vikings practice squad in October, a contingency plan when Kyren Williams hit injured reserve. But with Williams’ return to the field nearing, plus contributions from Darrell Henderson and Royce Freeman, Gaskin evidently became expendable.
The 26-year-old initially joined the Vikings roster late in the summer after the club auditioned men like Kareem Hunt and Mike Davis for the gig. The Dolphins cut Gaskin loose during roster trimdowns, and Minnesota pounced.
Then, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah swung a low-stakes trade for the aforementioned Akers, and Gaskin ventured to Minnesota’s practice squad. Los Angeles flew in for the practice squad pilfer, but now Akers and Gaskin are temporarily inactive (one due to injury, the other due to unemployment).
The former 7th-Round draft pick is a dual-threat RB, tabulating 101 receptions since 2019 for 701 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 361 rushing attempts for 1,355 yards and 7 scores. He was at the peak of his powers in 2020, tallying 972 yards from scrimmage.
Here’s Gaskin’s Pro Football Focus resume to date:
2022: 66.5
2021: 64.8
2020: 74.5
2019: 57.4
Gaskin has played eight snaps between the Vikings and Rams this season, all special teams.
If the Vikings opt for more RB depth, Gaskin will likely be the guy. Otherwise, free agents like J.D. McKissic, Rex Burkhead, and James Robinson, among others, remain available on the open market.
Gaskin would likely hit the practice squad — again — if signed by the Vikings. Mattison and Chandler are on tap for RB1 and RB2 duty, while mystery remains for the team’s plan at RB3. It could be Nwangwu, McBride, or a player to be named later.
Minnesota ranks 29th leaguewide after Week 9 in rushing yards.
Dobbs or Hall. Who You Got?
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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