Vikings Make It a Trifecta by Signing New RB
The running joke will be extended for at least one more year.
An annual tradition is back for the Minnesota Vikings, adding the same guy to the roster for the third year straight.
Every summer, Minnesota Vikings fans ask, “When will they trade for Cam Akers?”
This time, Minnesota didn’t have to pull off a trade, but it did sign Akers from free agency on Tuesday.
Cam Akers Is Back for the Vikings
Third time’s a charm.
Vikings Sign Cam Akers
You got it right; Akers is back.
NBC Sports‘ Myles Simmons wrote Tuesday, “With Aaron Jones sidelined by a hamstring injury, the Vikings are turning to a familiar face. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Minnesota is expected to sign running back Cam Akers for a third stint with the franchise. There’s no word on if Akers will sign with the 53-man roster or the practice squad.”
Simmons left Akers’ status of active roster versus practice squad up in the air, but a practice squad fate is likely, with elevations beginning as early as this weekend.
Yes, It’s the 3rd Season in a Row
In 2023, needing a healthy running back, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah swung a low-risk trade for Akers with the Los Angeles Rams. Akers played well for about a month and later tore his Achilles tendon.
Minnesota did not re-sign Akers during the 2024 offseason, but it sure as hell traded for Akers one year ago in the regular season, this time with the Houston Texans, another arrangement involving a throwaway draft pick. If there’s any solace about Akers’ return in 2025, it’s that Minnesota signed him from free agency and didn’t sacrifice a late-round pick.
Aaron Jones to IR
Why is Akers back? Well, Aaron Jones is out for at least four games with a bad hamstring, unable to return until Week 8 on Thursday Night Football when Minnesota will play the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Yes, Jones is out until at least October 23rd.
Akers knows the offense, and the Vikings need a RB2-RB3 type without Jones available on Sundays. So, for the next month, the RB room will look like this:
- Jordan Mason
- Zavier Scott
- Cam Akers
- Xazavian Valladay (Practice Squad)
RB2-RB3 Role for Akers
Many Vikings fans want to get a look at Scott in a real game. He’s never received a rushing attempt in the regular season, but in the preseason, Scott looked the part. The Maine alumnus is a big running back — 6’1 and 220 pounds — who played wide receiver in college.
Akers back in the mix, though, tentatively hints at an RB2 assignment for one main reason: Akers pass-blocks with the best of them, and the Vikings value that trait to the utmost. It might be the primary reason that Minnesota keeps finding a way to reunite with him — pass protection.
Regardless, Akers will be the RB2-RB3 no matter what. It’s an annual purple tradition.
More on Akers
Our Janik Eckardt wrote about Akers on Tuesday, “Akers signed with the New Orleans Saints in June but was released in August. He has not found a new home since. The Vikings certainly make sense, considering the familiarity.”
“There’s no crazy new playbook he has to learn, no new coaching staff he has to impress. It’s the same old plays and the same old coach for whom he played in Los Angeles and in Minnesota. Last year, Akers was solid for the Vikings. He’s not a game-changing back by any means at this stage in his career, but he gained a decent 297 rushing and 52 receiving yards with a total of three touchdowns.”
At this point, just pencil in Minnesota to sign Akers next September or October, too.
“A couple of signature plays were a game-clinching pass reception against the Green Bay Packers on an inaccurate Sam Darnold pass and an explosive 58-yarder in the game for the division crown in Week 18, when he was caught on the cusp of the endzone. Barring another injury, the Vikings don’t need Akers to carry the rock 25 times,” Eckardt added.
“His task would be to spell Mason on two or three drives, and pretty much return to his 2024 role as the RB2 in O’Connell’s offense. Akers is 26 years old, and he’s just a call away. At this point, it would be more surprising if he wasn’t a Viking by the time Week 3 kicks off.”
Akers could see the field as early as Sunday when the Vikings host the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s tabulated 2,413 yards from scrimmage in 53 career games, along with 17 total touchdowns.
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