Dalton Risner Gets Reps w/Vikings 1st-Team Offense; Cam Akers Will Be Active vs Panthers

The Minnesota Vikings will get their chance at earning their first victory for the fourth time this weekend, vs the (also winless) Carolina Panthers. After signing offensive guard, Dalton Risner, and trading for running back, Cam Akers, last week, help is on the way in week 4.

Dalton Risner works w/1’s; Cam Akers active

Head coach, Kevin O’Connell, told reporters on Wednesday that Risner will get reps with the Vikings 1st-team offense throughout the week and that Akers is expected to be active and on the field Sunday, vs the Panthers.

Kevin O’Connell said the Vikings will get OL Dalton Risner some first-team snaps today in practice. Didn’t say whether it would be at LG or RG. Will decide “best 5” OL for Sunday, but didn’t rule out a rotation.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 27, 2023

“Yeah the plan is to get [Cam Akers] up and active and give him some opportunities in the game [vs Carolina] Kevin O’Connell

The Vikings’ offensive line has been much improved recently, according to advanced metrics like PFF and SIS, but the pass blocking could get even better, should Risner be the same type of player he has been for most of his 4-year career to this point.

Akers seems like the bigger question mark. The Rams thought so little of him that they essentially gave him up for free. But Alexander Mattison hasn’t been anything near what the Minnesota Vikings had hoped, entering the season.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Threatens to Bench Vikings Players Who Can’t Hold onto the Football

Can Akers be the 1-punch to Mattison’s 2-punch or vice versa? At the end of the day, he can’t hurt because the Vikings have one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL through three weeks and that, along with major ball security issues, are the only thing holding back this offense.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan