No Need to Panic about Vikings Top RB
On Tuesday evening, the Minnesota Vikings swung a low-risk trade with the Houston Texans for running back Cam Akers.
No Need to Panic about Vikings Top RB
If the name and trade sound familiar, it’s because the Vikings traded for the same player 13 months ago, using the same trade package — a conditional 6th-Rounder for Akers and a conditional 7th-Round pick.
Akers is back, insurance for the club’s RB room.
Of course, some onlookers interpreted the trade with a little panic. Ten days ago, running back Aaron Jones injured his hip in London, and if the purple team is firing off trades for other tailbacks, perhaps that paints a grimmer picture of Jones’ recovery.
But NFL Network‘s Tom Pelisserso says nope. Pelissero tweeted Tuesday, “The Vikings trade for Cam Akers isn’t a reflection of any long-term concerns with RB Aaron Jones, who could play Sunday. Just another quality RB who knows the system going back to his days with Kevin O’Connell in L.A.”
So, the deal for Akers is not a Jones replacement. It’s “just in case.” Jones will turn 30 in December, and the knock on old halfbacks — and Jones, in particular — is injury. He gets hurt; this is part of the ride. Minnesota will now have Akers in the chamber, along with Ty Chandler, Myles Gaskin, and Zavier Scott, if Jones’ injury woes persist.
Meanwhile, Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling tweeted Monday. “Aaron Jones is participating in the Vikings’ light practice as they return from their bye week. Good early sign for the running back after his hip injury in London. Didn’t see Blake Cashman or Harrison Phillips, though the Vikings can be cautious with a bit of a bonus day today.”
Furthermore, a source told VikingsTerritory that Jones “should be good to go” for Sunday’s game. The same source also indicated there’s almost no chance that T.J. Hockenson will play against Detroit, instead targeting Week 8 for the tight end’s return.
On the night of Jones’ hip injury, Pro Football Talk claimed the ailment wasn’t serious. “The veteran left Sunday’s 23-17 win over the Jets with a hip injury,” Mike Florio wrote Sunday, October 6th. “Initially, he was questionable to return. Then, he was ruled out. Initial word is that, by the time the Vikings return to action after their Week 6 bye, Jones should be good to go. They need him.”
And head coach Kevin O’Connell said about Jones’ injury status eight days ago, “He continues to be evaluated, but all the early information we’ve got so far, it looks like we’ve avoided a long-term injury. I’d classify him week to week at this point.”
Jones will be fine — and will probably play this weekend. Ignore misinformation tweets like this:
Minnesota is favored to defeat the Detroit Lions by 2.5 points this weekend.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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