EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are working their way through a barrage of early season injuries.
Minnesota on Wednesday announced the placement of running back Aaron Jones, Sr., on Injured Reserve due to a hamstring injury he suffered during Sunday's Week 2 loss to the Falcons.
To bolster depth at the position, Minnesota signed Cam Akers to its practice squad, returning him within a season for the third consecutive year.
Additionally, the Vikings announced they have signed quarterback Desmond Ridder to their 53-man roster. The practice squad spot for Akers was created when the Jaguars signed defensive back Kahlef Hailassie to Jacksonville's 53-man roster, a move announced Wednesday.
Starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy is dealing with an ankle sprain that occurred during a questionable tackle along the sidelines as a 16-yard scramble concluded late in the third quarter. He finished the game, but Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announced Monday that the 2024 first-round pick will miss some time.
The Vikings are preparing veteran Carson Wentz to start Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the Bengals, who also will be rolling with a backup QB, former Viking Jake Browning. Cincinnati, by the way, signed former Vikings backup QB to its 53-man roster from its practice squad on Tuesday.
The Vikings did not place McCarthy on Injured Reserve. After Wentz, the Vikings have undrafted rookie Max Brosmer.
Ridder, 26, joins the Vikings after spending 2025 training camp with the Bengals.
The former Cincinnati Bearcat was initially drafted by Atlanta with the 74th overall pick of 2022. He started 17 of 19 games played for the Falcons from 2022-23, completing 322 of 503 passes (64.0%) for 3,544 yards with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His passer rating was 84.1 in two seasons with the Falcons.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of Oct. 6, 2025.

3 WR Jordan Addison

3 WR Jordan Addison

93 DL Jonathan Allen

93 DL Jonathan Allen

64 G Blake Brandel

64 G Blake Brandel

12 QB Max Brosmer

12 QB Max Brosmer

57 OLB Chaz Chambliss

57 OLB Chaz Chambliss

71 T Christian Darrisaw

71 T Christian Darrisaw

42 LS Andrew DePaola

42 LS Andrew DePaola

13 WR Tai Felton

13 WR Tai Felton

76 G Will Fries

76 G Will Fries

58 OLB Jonathan Greenard

58 OLB Jonathan Greenard

30 RB C.J. Ham

30 RB C.J. Ham

97 DL Javon Hargrave

97 DL Javon Hargrave

87 TE T.J. Hockenson

87 TE T.J. Hockenson

60 G Joe Huber

60 G Joe Huber

90 DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

90 DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

74 OL Donovan Jackson

74 OL Donovan Jackson

26 S Theo Jackson

26 S Theo Jackson

18 WR Justin Jefferson

18 WR Justin Jefferson

65 G Michael Jurgens

65 G Michael Jurgens

56 LB Austin Keys

56 LB Austin Keys

41 LB Kobe King

41 LB Kobe King

27 RB Jordan Mason

27 RB Jordan Mason

9 QB J.J. McCarthy

9 QB J.J. McCarthy

6 CB Dwight McGlothern

6 CB Dwight McGlothern

44 S Joshua Metellus

44 S Joshua Metellus

7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.

7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.

1 WR Jalen Nailor

1 WR Jalen Nailor

75 T Brian O'Neill

75 T Brian O'Neill

8 CB Jeff Okudah

8 CB Jeff Okudah

84 TE Josh Oliver

84 TE Josh Oliver

0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.

0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.

4 WR Myles Price

4 WR Myles Price

61 DL Jalen Redmond

61 DL Jalen Redmond

16 K Will Reichard

16 K Will Reichard

98 OLB Bo Richter

98 OLB Bo Richter

2 CB Isaiah Rodgers

2 CB Isaiah Rodgers

50 DL Levi Drake Rodriguez

50 DL Levi Drake Rodriguez

71 T Walter Rouse

71 T Walter Rouse

36 RB Zavier Scott

36 RB Zavier Scott

67 T Justin Skule

67 T Justin Skule

22 S Harrison Smith

22 S Harrison Smith

19 WR Adam Thielen

19 WR Adam Thielen

37 DB Tavierre Thomas

37 DB Tavierre Thomas

15 OLB Dallas Turner

15 OLB Dallas Turner

43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel

43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel

24 S Jay Ward

24 S Jay Ward

11 QB Carson Wentz

11 QB Carson Wentz

99 DL Elijah Williams

99 DL Elijah Williams

55 LB Eric Wilson

55 LB Eric Wilson

17 P Ryan Wright

17 P Ryan Wright

85 TE Ben Yurosek

85 TE Ben Yurosek
Atlanta traded Ridder to Arizona for receiver Rondale Moore in March 2024. Moore missed all of last season with a knee injury before signing with the Vikings this offseason. The receiver and return specialist landed on Injured Reserve after a knee injury in Minnesota's preseason opener against Houston.
The Raiders signed Ridder from the Cardinals practice squad in October 2024. He appeared in six games and made one start for Las Vegas. He completed 52 of 85 passes for 687 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Raiders, totaling a passer rating of 73.6.
Akers, 26, rejoins Minnesota for his third stint with the franchise after he was released by the Saints during their August roster trimmings and became a free agent. The Vikings completed mid-season trades for Akers each of the past two years. He was acquired first from the Rams on Sept. 20, 2023, and appeared in six games for Minnesota before tearing his Achilles. Last year, the team landed Akers on Oct. 15 via a trade with the Texans; he played in 13 games for the Purple including the Wild Card loss to L.A. in Arizona.
Akers is beloved inside the building for his professionalism and inspiring personal journey.
Also, he possesses important familiarity with Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's scheme. Along with his experience in the Vikings system, Akers teamed with O'Connell and Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips when they were part of the Rams staff in 2020-21. The running back returned from a 2021 Achilles injury in time for Los Angeles' run to Super Bowl LVI, carrying the rock 67 times over four postseason games.
Jones, who caught a 27-yard touchdown at Chicago in Week 1, departed Sunday Night Football with a hamstring injury, leaving Jordan Mason as the top option. Fourth-year running back Ty Chandler is currently on short-term Injured Reserve, so Zavier Scott is also a candidate for a role on offense.
Mason leads the Vikings (1-1) with 98 yards on 24 carries (4.1 avg.).
In 53 career games and 17 starts, Akers has amassed 502 rushes for 2,025 yards (4.0 avg.) and 13 touchdowns. Through the air, he has secured 52 of 65 targets for 388 yards and four touchdowns.
Across 18 total regular-season games with Minnesota, the 2020 second-round draft pick out of Florida State has averaged 4.3 yards per rush, gaining 435 yards and two touchdowns on 102 attempts. Additionally, he has produced 21 catches for 122 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the pass phase.
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