The Bold Case for the Vikings to Sign You Know Who
Rather quickly into the 2025 season, injuries have become a storyline for the Minnesota Vikings.
Here’s the case for the Vikings to sign you know who. In light of mounting injuries, the guy just makes too much sense.
The club is 1-1 out of the gate, winning its version of a thriller over the Chicago Bears in Week 1, followed by a clunker home performance and loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
And with injuries stacking, one former Viking just makes too much sense from free agency: Cam Akers.
Vikings Could Call RB Cam Akers — Again
The RB room is already ravaged by injury.
Cam Akers Remains a Free Agent
Akers signed with the New Orleans Saints early in the summer, on tap to battle for a roster spot against Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, and rookie Devin Neal.
He lost the battle, dropped by the Saints amid roster cuts and cast onto the free-agent wire, where he remains. No New Orleans practice squad. Therefore, Akers needs a job, and his former employer — two separate years in a row — may be hiring.
In 2023, Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded for Akers with the Los Angeles Rams, a low-risk deal to strengthen the RB squad when Alexander Mattison struggled and eventually got hurt. Last year, Adofo-Mensah traded for Akers again, this time in a deal with the Houston Texans when Aaron Jones battled a small injury.
Fast forward to 2025, and Minnesota can sign Akers outright without any trades. He’s free in that regard.
Aaron Jones Battling a Hamstring Injury
It’s a hamstring injury for Aaron Jones in the fallout of Sunday Night Football.
CBS Sports noted after the game: “Aaron Jones (hamstring) is questionable to return to Sunday’s game against the Falcons, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports. Jones was having a quiet game prior to his fourth-quarter injury, with just five carries for 23 yards and no catches on one target. Jordan Mason will handle the bulk of the backfield workload for the Vikings if Jones remains out.”
The severity of Jones’ injury will become clearer this week, but any semblance of missed games might prompt Adofo-Mensah to call on a familiar man — Akers.
Jordan Mason is in line to assume RB1 responsibilities, but Akers would provide adept depth, especially if Jones’ hamstring ailment lingers.
Ty Chandler Already on IR
All of that? That’s on top of Ty Chandler on injured reserve.
Chandler will miss at least the next three games with a knee injury. Many believed Chandler would actually be waived during roster trimdowns in August, but he made the cut because fullback C.J. Ham was — you guessed it — injured.
So, yes, Minnesota is down three running backs and fullbacks as of Monday morning, September 15th: Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler, and C.J. Ham.
It’s why websites like this one are promoting Akers.
Akers Better Than Zavier Scott
Meanwhile, upstart second-year tailback Zavier Scott could be on deck for more action. He’s the logical next step if Jones misses games.
However, Akers is a better running back than Scott. Full stop. Scott turned heads in the preseason and deserves a shot at regular-season playing time, but for a team reeling with an incompetent loss against the Falcons, plus the desperate need to get the rushing offense cooking, signing Akers for cheaper is a smarter angle than promoting Scott and “hoping for the best.”
Scott, for the time being, needs gradual work as an RB3, not an RB2.
News and Notes on Akers
Heavy‘s Max Dible wrote about Akers last month, connecting him to the Cleveland Browns as a possible free-agent fit, “The Cleveland Browns have something of a mess on their hands at the running back position, but a recent cut in the NFC South just provided a viable solution.”
“Cam Akers lost his job with the New Orleans Saints on Monday, August 25, and responded to his release via an X post. Akers, 26, is a five-year pro who won a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams following the 2021 campaign. He put up a career year in 2022, tallying 786 rushing yards and seven TDs on 4.2 yards per carry.”
Akers obviously has familiarity with the Vikings’ offense, so the acclimation can be seamless if Minnesota takes the plunge.
Dible added, “He also caught 13 passes for 117 yards that season. The Minnesota Vikings traded for Akers, reuniting him with head coach Kevin O’Connell who served as the offensive coordinator of the Rams’ Super Bowl team. However, Akers ruptured his Achilles tendon shortly thereafter and missed the remainder of the year.”
“He returned to the field in 2024 and played reasonably well across 17 appearances (two starts) between stints with the Houston Texans and Minnesota. Akers finished the season with 444 rushing yards and two TDs on an average of 4.3 yards per haul. He added 14 receptions for 68 yards.”
Akers turned 26 this summer and will be affordable with his next contract.
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