Tag: Cam Akers

Vikings RB Aaron Jones named ideal fit for new team in 2025

ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak believes running back Aaron Jones could be a perfect fit for a team other than the Minnesota Vikings in 2025.

The running game in Minnesota has been lackluster for the past two seasons. Last year, running backs Alexander Mattison and Cam Akers had their moments, but overall failed to fill the shoes left behind by former running back Dalvin Cook.

This season, the running game got a little bit better with the introduction of former Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones. Jones had the best rushing season of his career in 2024 with the Vikings, running for 1,138 yards and a 4.5 yards-per-carry average. He also had one of his best years as a receiver, hauling in 51 receptions for 408 yards. Yet it still felt like there was something missing from the Vikings’ rushing attack.

A lot of that can be chalked up to the deficiencies along the offensive line, which may give the Vikings the idea to run it back with Jones in 2025. However, Jones effectively signed a one-year deal with the team in the offseason, and is likely to hit free agency this offseason.

One NFL analyst believes the best stop for Jones may not be Minnesota, but instead a trip out west to the AFC with the Denver Broncos. In a recent column for ESPN, NFL analyst Benjamin Solak identified Jones’ as a great fit for the Broncos rushing attack, saying:

Denver will start to elevate their offense at running back, where their rotation has been lacking a reliable grinder who can handle 15-plus touches per game. Aaron Jones, should he become available, is an ideal fit on a front-loaded three-year deal.

The Vikings are projected to have plenty of salary cap space heading into the 2025 offseason, and Jones had a strong season for the in 2024. It would make sense for the Vikings to want to keep him in purple and gold and turn to the offensive line to improve their rushing attack.

However, with a strong running backs class in the 2025 NFL Draft, and large free-agent contracts historically not working out well, Minnesota could opt to let Jones leave for a team like Denver and try to find his replacement in the draft, leaving that money to be spent elsewhere — perhaps on the defensive backfield they’ll have to find numerous starters for.

NFL analyst wants to see Vikings trade for Raiders defensive tackle

Despite a two-game skid, the Vikings are still NFC contenders. One NFL analyst believes they should make a move to improve their defense.

Despite the recent two-game skid and some pessimism on the team that has crept in during the past two weeks, the Minnesota Vikings are still very much in the thick of the NFC playoff picture. Despite slipping to third in their own division, Minnesota is still one of the top teams in the conference by record and would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.

That makes them very much a contender, despite what their recent play might suggest. One of the biggest issues with the Vikings recently has been, surprisingly, the play of their defense. The defensive line and linebackers have not been able to create pressure like they were at the beginning of the season, and it’s putting strain on an already haphazard defensive backs unit.

One NFL analyst, CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan, believes the solution to the Vikings’ recent woes may come at the trade deadline. The Vikings have already been active on the trade market, trading for familiar running back Cam Akers and then filling the hole left by an injured Christian Darrisaw with former Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson, but they may not be done.

Sullivan suggests the Vikings contact the Las Vegas Raiders about defensive tackle Adam Butler. Butler is familiar with defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the defense he likes to run from his time with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.

Despite not getting to the quarterback yet this season, Butler has one of the overall best seasons of his career in 2024 with the Raiders. Bringing Butler into the fold for the Vikings could give the team a great rotation of defensive tackles, keeping everyone fresher for longer and hopefully increasing their production.

Butler is currently on a one-year deal with the Raiders for only $1.8 million and would likely not command a high price. The price may be a bit higher than what the Vikings gave up for Robinson, but they should still be able to make a deal without touching their limited 2025 NFL Draft capital.

Kevin O’Connell explains why the Vikings traded for Cam Akers

For the second time in two seasons, the Vikings made a move to trade for running back Cam Akers.

For the second year in a row, the Vikings traded for running back Cam Akers. The former Texan running back had 40 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown for Houston this season before Minnesota traded for him.

The trade raised a few eyebrows around the league and the main reason was because of starter Aaron Jones and what that signaled about the injury he suffered in London two weeks ago. Jones left with a hip injury, but head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters on Wednesday that the trade had no bearing on the current situation.

“Has no bearing on our current running back situation,” O’Connell said. “Aaron is going to progress throughout the week and hopefully has a chance to go on Sunday. Ty Chandler and Myles Gaskin and Cam will work behind (him). I like where Ty’s at, obviously, Aaron Jones has been a huge impact to our team, so getting to solidify that depth at that position, with an urgency to run the football throughout the rest of the season, we wanted to make sure we could do that now when an opportunity became available.”

It ultimately sounds like coach O’Connell just really likes Akers as a running back and Minnesota did want to re-sign him this offseason but the two sides didn’t agree on a deal. Akers will now get an opportunity to earn a potential backup role to Jones if he can beat out Chandler.

The Vikings might not be done making trades before the deadline

The Vikings could be potential buyers at the NFL trade deadline.

The NFL trade deadline is November 5, and there were three trades made on Tuesday. Two were fairly big trades involving receivers Davanate Adams and Amari Cooper, and the other involved the Vikings trading for running back Cam Akers—again.

Minnesota wanted to add some depth to its running back room, and even though Aaron Jones suffered an injury in Week 5 against the Jets in London, coach Kevin O’Connell said it had nothing to do with that. During his Wednesday conference call, O’Connell hinted Minnesota might not be done making trades before the deadline.

“I think where we’re at right now as a team, we’re just focused on the guys we have and we’re really excited about our roster,” he said. “But I’m sure, as we move forward here, Kwesi and his group will be evaluating all options that work from the standpoint of continuing to build this team.

“We feel like we’ve got really good depth, that was one of the reasons why we made the move for Cam, just to continue to solidify an important part of our team for the next 12 games and beyond. If there’s an opportunity to do that at another position or an opportunity to add an impact player, you just have to work through all of those as a group and figure out what works best.”

If it is appealing, the Vikings could consider adding help on the interior of the defensive line or at another position.

Texans receive mixed grade on RB Cam Akers trade

One publication wasn’t the biggest fan of the Houston Texans trading away Cam Akers for a late-round pick on Tuesday.

The Houston Texans realized they could find value in trading away one of their running backs now that Pro Bowler Joe Mixon was back at full speed.

On Tuesday, that thought became a reality as Cam Akers returned to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.

Some were a fan of the move, given that Akers would have been buried down the depth. Others, including Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, weren’t, giving the deal an overall “C” grade for Houston.

Meanwhile, Knox gave the Vikings a “B” since it was a cost-friendly contract for a player who previously played for them and has a great understanding of the offensive personnel.

“This is a less-valuable move for the Texans, though not altogether puzzling,” Knox wrote. “Houston saw the return of Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) in Week 6, and both played extremely well—each topped 75 rushing yards and found the end zone. The Texans also have a capable third back in Dare Ogunbowale.

While a team with Super Bowl aspirations can rarely afford to dump experienced depth—Akers appeared in five games with two starts this season—keeping him on the active roster for the next 11 weeks might not have been feasible.”

Perhaps the grade is a bit too harsh. Akers, who impressed during the preseason and earned a spot on the final 53-man roster, was a healthy scratch in Week 1 because there wasn’t a place for him. In Week 2, he only played because Pierce was dealing with a hamstring injury.

There’s also the role element. Akers doesn’t provide value on special teams. He’s a solid No. 3 option in the run game, but so is Ogunbowale, who also has been one of the better special teams players since joining the team.

A trade to the Vikings likely gives him an expanded role in their offense, espeically with Aaron Jones limited due to injury.

The Texans travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers this Sunday at noon CT.

The trade terms for Cam Akers should sound familiar to Vikings fans

The team traded for running back Cam Akers, ironically, the reported trade price for him on Tuesday should sound familiar to Vikings fans. 

The Vikings made a quiet but important move on Tuesday when the team traded for running back Cam Akers. The former Florida State Seminole has been around the league and has shown that he can find traction for several teams.

Ironically, the reported trade price for Akers on Tuesday should sound familiar to Vikings fans.

The team saw its offense sputter some without Aaron Jones, so Akers proved to be a nice insurance policy. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah knew he could get Akers for cheap because he did so in 2023. As it turns out, his trade value has remained the same since then.

In 2023, Akers was acquired by the Vikings for a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Akers and a 2026 conditional seven-round pick.

It was nearly identical terms used to acquire him on Tuesday.

With Aaron Jones injured, Akers could see a big role immediately in a matchup with the Lions on the horizon. Sam Darnold relies upon the running game to keep his passing options open, so it will be interesting to see how Kevin O’Connell utilizes him on a short week.

TRADE: Vikings acquire running back Cam Akers from the Houston Texans

The Minnesota Vikings saw what their running game turned into with Aaron Jones being hurt, and they got some insurance. 

The Minnesota Vikings saw what their running game turned into with Aaron Jones being hurt, and they got some insurance. On Tuesday, they traded for a familiar face, which was the third trade of the day for the NFL.

According to NFL Media, the Minnesota Vikings acquired running back Cam Akers from the Houston Texans. Akers signed with the Texans after spending last season with the Vikings, so he is familiar with the offense and roster.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah sent the Texans a conditional 6th-round pick in 2026 in return for Akers and a conditional 7th-round pick in 2026.

Akers has run for 147 yards and found the endzone once while working in a loaded backfield in Houston. Akers was the odd man out with the team utilizing Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce.

The Vikings gave running backs Ty Chandler and Myles Gaskin every chance to earn the role in the preseason and against the Jets, but they proved to be less than ideal. Once Aaron Jones went down with his hip injury, the entire offense lost its momentum, and the Vikings could not afford that.

Texans trade RB Cam Akers to Vikings for late-round pick

Cam Akers is headed back to the Minnesota Vikings for the second time in his career.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Cam Akers is headed back to Minneapolis.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Houston Texans are trading the veteran running back, plus a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick.

Akers, who impressed enough during the preseason to earn a spot on Houston’s final 53-man roster, returns to the undefeated NFC North franchise for the second time in his career. Coincidentally, both times he’s played for the Vikings came via trades.

Following Week 1 last season, the Los Angeles Rams traded Akers to Minnesota for a late-round pick. In six games as the Vikings; No. 2 runner, he rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries before suffering a season-ending Achilles tear in early November.

With the return of Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and third-year standout Dameon Pierce, Akers’ role decreased. In Sunday’s 41-21 win over the New England Patriots, he only had two carries for negative yards after averaging 9.7 carries per game in the previous four outings.

The Texans were filled at running back to where Akers likely would have been either been limited for reps or inactive. Mixon and Peirce are coming off exceptional games where they averaged over 7.9 yards per run and scored three total touchdowns.

Dare Ogunbowale also has been exceptional as a third-down especially in the passing games. He also has value on special teams while Akers was only a running back.

While he wasn’t an ideal No. 1 option, Akers filled the void in place of Mixon and Pierce during their absence. He averaged 3.7 yards per run and scored two touchdowns over three games.

In Minnesota, Akers will probably compete with Ty Chandler and Myles Gaskin for reps behind the injured Aaron Jones, who’s being considered “week-to-week” after suffering a hip injury before the Vikings’ bye week.

He’ll be a sufficient fit for the offense since he already understands the play concepts, given that Houston and Minnesota share similar rushing concepts.

In place of Akers on the roster, defensive tackle Kurt Hinish will take his place on the active 53-man roster. Hinish, a third-year defender from Notre Dame, was activated from the injured reserve on Tuesday.

The Texans head to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers this Sunday at noon CT.

Watch: Texans RB Cam Akers score 1st rushing TD vs. Bills

Houston Texans running back Cam Akers is back in the end zone on a 15-yard run against the Buffalo Bills.

The Houston Texans have found success for the first time since the fourth quarter of Week 1.

Houston took an early 7-3 over the Buffalo Bills on a six-play, 70-yard drive, capped off with a 15-yard touchdown run from Cam Akers.

While the run was impressive, the blocking set up by Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover actually opened a crease to secure the score.

Akers gained 11 yards on the previous play to place Houston inside the red zone. He started the day with back-to-back 10-plus-yard carries.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a few short passes, which his receivers gained extra yards after the catch.

On a screen pass, receiver Nico Collins became the first player to reach 500 receiving yards on the season thanks to a pickup of 12.

For Akers it is the first rushing touchdown since Week 8 of last season. He tore his achilles for the second time in his career the next week.

Akers has since recovered and has been the Texans leading rusher in the absence of starter Joe Mixon.

The Texans will receive the ball to begin the second half.

Texans vs. Jaguars: RB Joe Mixon ruled out against Jaguars

The Houston Texans will be without their top running back, Joe Mixon, against the Jacksonville Jaguars as he rehabs his ankle injury.

For the second straight week Cam Akers will be the Houston Texans leading running back. Already without backup Dameon Pierce, Houston ruled out Joe Mixon with a sprained ankle.

Mixon returned to practice on Friday, sparking some optimism he may return. He arrived on Sunday as a game time decision, but will not be on the field as he continues to rehab the ankle injury he sustained in Week 2.

The former Pro Bowl running back left early in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears after linebacker T.J. Edwards committed what appeared to be a hip drop tackle, which was banned by the league in the offseason. Edwards received a $16,883 fine for the play.

Mixon rushed for a team-high 184 yards in the first two weeks, including a 159-yard debut in the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Since the Texans 213 yards in Week 1, they’ve totaled just 113 on the ground.

Akers will assume lead back duties again, after rushing for 21 yards on nine attempts. Akers is in first season with Houston after previous stints with the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings.

Houston also elevated running back J.J. Taylor from the practice squad to provide more depth behind Akers and passing down back Dare Ogunbowale.

Mixon and Tank Dell are two of the offensive weapons missing for quarterback C.J. Stroud, who will attempt to lift the unit after scoring just seven points a week ago.