The Minnesota Vikings continue to look for help in the run game and took a step towards, what they hope will be, an improvement in that area by completing a trade with the Los Angeles Rams for running back Cam Akers.
According to ESPN, the two teams announced the trade, which is pending a physical and includes a swap of 2026 draft picks, with the Vikings also getting a conditional seventh-round pick and the Rams getting a conditional sixth-rounder.
Akers had been a subject of trade rumors and consistently mentioned in trade-centric articles by NFL journalists for the last year plus.
The Vikings have an NFL-low 69 rushing yards this season and have also attempted only 23 carries by running back. Minnesota has been operating most of their offense through a passing game that has produced the NFL’s second-most yards (674).
The Vikings notably moved on from veteran back Dalvin Cook this offseason. Cook eventually signed with the New York Jets while the Vikings turned to Alexander Mattison as their lead back moving forward.
Additionally, the Vikings bolstered their offensive line by signing free agent Dalton Risner with the hope that they can have him in the starting lineup in the near future.
Akers and the Rams have been at odds, or sorts, for the last year and Akers spent nearly a month away from the Rams in the middle of the season after head coach Sean McVay said they explored the option of finding the running back “a fresh new start with another team.”
Now, Akers lands in a new spot and it could be a shot to take over some lead-back duties once again.
