Another Sensible MN Vikings Reunion Just Got Easier

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Cam Akers
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings are quickly approaching roster cut down day. Teams must have their 53-man rosters set by Tuesday August 26th at 3pm CDT. Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah already made their first 11 moves.

The running back position doesn’t have a ton of intrigue for the Vikings this year. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are locked in as the top tandem. They’ll operate behind a beefed up offensive line, and with a quarterback that will initially rely on them.

After the top two, there’s probably room for one more. Ty Chandler may luck into the role that Zavier Scott has earned, but maybe Cam Akers just makes sense.

Cam Akers doesn’t require a Minnesota Vikings trade this time

Each of the past two seasons the Minnesota Vikings have felt good about their Week 1 running back depth. Each time they went out and swung a trade to acquire Cam Akers. He landed a job with the New Orleans Saints, but was a roster casualty on Monday.

The Vikings opted against signing Cam Akers this offseason, but that is the same path they chose each of the past two years. Trades still made him part of the roster, and now he’s available as a free agent.

We already know that head coach Kevin O’Connell views Akers as a better back than Chandler. That has been proven the last two years. Whether Zavier Scott’s ankle injury is serious or not, it’s pretty straightforward to make Akers the third back rather than Chandler.

Akers played six games for Minnesota in 2023 prior to his achilles injury. Last year he was with the Houston Texans, and actually played against the Vikings, before finishing the final 12 games in purple.

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He rushed for 297 yards on 64 carries in 2024. Akers also hauled in 10-of-11 passes and scoring a pair of receiving touchdowns. The 26-year-old has plenty of tread left on the tires, and he’s a much more trustworthy all-around back than Chandler has proven to be.

Minnesota still must assess where Scott is at in relation to a 53-man roster spot. If he’s going to be a candidate for injured reserve to open the year though, a third-reunion for Akers and O’Connell might need to happen. This time is just doesn’t have to include trade capital.

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