EAGAN, Minn. — A former Vikings running back is coming back to Minnesota.
The team on Tuesday announced it has agreed to terms of a trade with the Houston Texans that will return Cam Akers and a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick. The agreement is dependent on Akers passing a physical.
The deal to acquire Akers is happening a year and a month after Minnesota acquired him from the Los Angeles Rams in September 2023. It also is nearly a month since Akers played against the Vikings in Week 3.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of January 14, 2024.

3 WR Jordan Addison

3 WR Jordan Addison

RB Cam Akers

RB Cam Akers

6 LB Brian Asamoah II

6 LB Brian Asamoah II

56 C Garrett Bradbury

56 C Garrett Bradbury

64 G Blake Brandel

64 G Blake Brandel

90 DL Jonathan Bullard

90 DL Jonathan Bullard

24 S Camryn Bynum

24 S Camryn Bynum

51 LB Blake Cashman

51 LB Blake Cashman

32 RB Ty Chandler

32 RB Ty Chandler

14 QB Sam Darnold

QB Sam Darnold

42 LS Andrew DePaola

42 LS Andrew DePaola

69 C/G Dan Feeney

69 C Dan Feeney

2 CB Stephon Gilmore

2 CB Stephon Gilmore

58 OLB Jonathan Greenard

58 OLB Jonathan Greenard

1 CB Shaq Griffin

1 CB Shaq Griffin

54 LB Kamu Grugier-Hill

54 LB Kamu Grugier-Hill

30 FB C.J. Ham

30 FB C.J. Ham

87 TE TJ Hockenson

87 TE T.J. Hockenson

67 G Ed Ingram

67 G Ed Ingram

26 S Theo Jackson

26 S Theo Jackson

18 WR Justin Jefferson

18 WR Justin Jefferson

33 RB Aaron Jones Sr.

33 RB Aaron Jones

13 QB Daniel Jones

13 QB Daniel Jones

91 OLB Pat Jones II

91 OLB Pat Jones II

65 OL Michael Jurgens

65 G Michael Jurgens

29 CB Dwight McGlothern

29 CB Dwight McGlothern

44 S Josh Metellus

44 S Joshua Metellus

23 CB Fabian Moreau

23 CB Fabian Moreau

12 QB Nick Mullens

12 QB Nick Mullens

86 TE Johnny Mundt

86 TE Johnny Mundt

7 CB Byron Murphy

7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.

83 WR Jalen Nailor

83 WR Jalen Nailor

75 T Brian O'Neill

75 T Brian O'Neill

84 TE Josh Oliver

84 TE Josh Oliver

0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.

0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.

57 DL Harrison Phillips

97 DL Harrison Phillips

4 WR Brandon Powell

4 WR Brandon Powell

76 T David Quessenberry

76 T David Quessenberry

61 DL Jalen Redmond

61 DL Jalen Redmond

16 K Will Reichard

16 K Will Reichard

98 OLB Bo Richter

98 OLB Bo Richter

66 G Dalton Risner

66 G Dalton Risner

74 T Cam Robinson

74 T Cam Robinson

50 DL Levi Drake Rodriguez

DL Levi Drake Rodriguez

78 T Walter Rouse

78 T Walter Rouse

11 WR Trent Sherfield Sr.

11 WR Trent Sherfield Sr.

22 S Harrison Smith

22 S Harrison Smith

99 DL Jerry Tillery

99 DL Jerry Tillery

15 OLB Dallas Turner

15 OLB Dallas Turner

43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel

43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel

20 S Jay Ward

20 S Jay Ward

52 OLB Jihad Ward

52 OLB Jihad Ward

17 P Ryan Wright

17 P Ryan Wright
Minnesota's aggressive defense was effective in limiting Akers to 21 yards on nine rushes with a long of 9, but Akers did add an 8-yard receiving touchdown for Houston's only score in a 34-7 loss to Minnesota.
Akers will bring experience (particularly already in Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's system) and depth for a running backs room that has featured Aaron Jones, Sr., and Ty Chandler.
Jones suffered a hip injury in Week 5 against the Jets in London. O'Connell listed Jones as "week to week" before Minnesota's Week 6 bye.
After joining the Vikings this offseason, Jones has rushed for 350 yards and a touchdown on 71 carries and added 17 receptions for 167 yards with a score on 20 receiving targets.
Chandler, a third-year pro, has 147 yards on 42 carries and has added 42 receiving yards on six catches (six targets).
Gaskin has played sparingly on offense and helped out with special teams. Fullback C.J. Ham also helped in London. He totaled 10 yards and a touchdown on his first two carries of 2024. Ham has caught both passes directed his way this season for a total of 11 yards and has experience helping out as a pass protector on third downs.
Akers joined Houston this offseason after rehabbing a torn Achilles he suffered in Minnesota's 2023 Week 9 game at Atlanta.
In five games this season, Akers has rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown on 40 carries and added four receptions for 16 yards.
Akers appeared in six games for Minnesota in 2023, rushing for 138 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries and adding 70 yards on 11 catches (12 targets).
O'Connell and Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips overlapped with Akers at the Los Angeles Rams, a run that included helping L.A. win Super Bowl LVI.