Oct 29, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers (31) is tackled by Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97), linebacker Rashan Gary and linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (59) in the game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings lost their starting quarterback Kirk Cousins to a torn Achilles tendon in Week 8. An unbelievable win led by newly acquired passer Joshua Dobbs keeps the Vikings in the playoff picture despite having to overcome a bunch of injuries. In addition to Cousins, Kevin O’Connell’s team battled without Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw, a couple of star players.
Sunday’s starting QB Jaren Hall left with a concussion early in the contest and so did K.J. Osborn after a scary hit. Josh Metellus and T.J. Hockenson were visibly in pain for a while as well. But the training staff and the team doctors weren’t done as running back Cam Akers exited the game with what was officially called an ankle injury.
He hobbled to the sideline, entered the blue medical tent, and was subsequently carted into the locker room. After the game, head coach O’Connell confirmed that the team fears an Achilles injury instead of an ankle problem: “Cam Akers, we believe has an Achilles injury. Can’t confirm the severity of that at this time but that is what we’re fearing.”
That is unfortunate for any player but devastating for Akers who suffered a torn Achilles in July of 2021 just to return the Super Bowl run in Los Angeles under Sean McVay and former Rams offensive coordinator O’Connell. He produced roughly 250 scrimmage yards in the four postseason games.
The Vikings have struggled to run the ball all year and those problems continued on Sunday. Akers rushed for 25 yards before exiting the contest but had a wonderful 19-yard play in the third quarter on a drive that ended in a field goal.
Because of the rushing problems, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded for Akers a couple of days before the Week 3 game against the Chargers. Akers was in McVay’s doghouse and the Rams shopped their former second-round pick, making it possible for the Vikings to get him for a late-round pick swap.
In 2022, Akers was expected to be the unquestioned starter in the backfield but that didn’t happen. The club and the athlete wanted a divorce but no deal could be found, so Akers stayed with the Rams and had some phenomenal games to close out the season, logging three straight 100-yard rushing games and a total of 786 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns in 2022.
Once again predicted to be the top guy this season, McVay turned to sophomore Kyren Williams. The Vikings added Akers to a running back room that only featured Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler. In his six games with the Vikings, Akers racked up 138 rushing yards, 70 receiving yards, and one total touchdown.
If Akers is indeed out, Mattison would get even more touches with either Chandler or a free-agent acquisition picking up the backup carries. Kene Nwangwu missed the last two games injured. Rookie DeWayne McBride is on the practice squad. Getting the rushing attack on track is a point of emphasis, especially without Cousins under center.
Akers, 24, will be a free agent in March and potentially coming off a second ruptured Achilles injury would be a big blow to his market.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt