The Minnesota Vikings have re-acquired running back Cam Akers from the Houston Texans, completing the deal on Tuesday. The trade involves a swap of conditional draft picks for 2026, with the Vikings sending a conditional sixth-round pick to Houston in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick.
Akers had started two games for the Texans this season, filling in for injured players Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce. In his time with Houston, he played against the Vikings in Week 3, where he rushed for nine yards on 21 carries, totaling 147 yards and one touchdown on 40 carries overall.
With both Mixon and Pierce returning to health, Akers became surplus to requirements for the Texans. The Vikings are currently uncertain about the status of their starting running back, Aaron Jones, due to a right hip injury. If Jones is unavailable, Ty Chandler is set to start against the Detroit Lions, but Akers will add depth to the Vikings’ backfield beyond current third-string running back Myles Gaskin.
Akers has a strong connection with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, having worked with them during their time at the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 and 2021. The Vikings initially acquired Akers from the Rams early in the 2023 season, where he played six games and recorded 138 yards and one touchdown before suffering a torn left Achilles tendon in Week 9. He previously tore his right Achilles tendon while with the Rams in 2021.
The Vikings attempted to re-sign Akers before this summer’s training camp, but he opted to join the Texans instead. O’Connell praised Akers, stating, “Cam is a unique, special and talented person. To deal with the type of adversity he has in his young career and never once have you ever heard him feel sorry for himself. Incredibly tough player, both mentally and physically.”