Vikings agree to trade to acquire running back Cam Akers
Minnesota's offensive defense was effective in limiting Akers to 21 yards on nine rushes with a long 9, but Akers added an 8-yard receiving touchdown for Houston's only score in a 34–7 loss to Minnesota.
Akers will bring experience (especially already in head coach Kevin O'Connell's system) and depth to a running back room that features Aaron Jones, Sr. and Ty Chandler.
Jones suffered a hip injury in Week 5 against the Jets in London. O'Connell listed Jones as “week to week” before Minnesota's Week 6 bye.
After joining the Vikings this offseason, Jones rushed for 350 yards and a touchdown on 71 carries and added 17 receptions for 167 yards with a score on 20 receiving targets.
Chandler, a third-year pro, has 147 yards on 42 carries and added 42 receiving yards on six catches (six targets).
Gaskin played sparingly on offense and helped out on special teams. Fullback CJ Hamm also helped in London. He totaled 10 yards and a touchdown on his first two carries of 2024. Hamm has caught both passes his way this season for a total of 11 yards and has experience helping out as a pass protector on third downs.
Akers joined Houston this offseason after rehabbing an Achilles suffered in Minnesota's 2023 Week 9 game in Atlanta.
In five games this season, Akers rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown on 40 carries and added four receptions for 16 yards.
Akers appeared in six games for Minnesota in 2023, adding 138 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries and 70 yards on 11 catches (12 targets).
O'Connell and Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips overlapped with Akers at the Los Angeles Rams, a run that included helping LA win Super Bowl LVI.