Following the recent injury to Aaron Jones, so many within the Minnesota Vikings fan base kept bringing up and joking about running back Cam Akers making a return to the team for a third straight year. That's no longer a joke.
KSTP-TV first reported the news, which ESPN's Adam Schefter later confirmed on Tuesday, that the Vikings were bringing Akers back. Whether he will be on the active roster or on the practice squad is unknown.
This is the third stint for Akers in Minnesota after spending time in 2023 and 2024 with the Vikings. In two seasons, Akers has rushed for 435 yards and two touchdowns, adding 122 receiving yards and one touchdown in 18 games.
Most fans will remember Akers for his time with the Los Angeles Rams after being their second-round pick in 2020. Akers played under Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell in his first two seasons in Los Angeles before O'Connell took the Minnesota job in 2022.
Akers has rushed for 2,025 yards and 13 touchdowns in 53 career games with the Rams, Vikings, and Houston Texans.
What Cam Akers' role on the Minnesota Vikings will be after signing (again)
This move stems from Jones dealing with a hamstring injury that he suffered this past Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. NFL Media's Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday that Minnesota has placed Jones on injured reserve, which means he will now miss at least four games.
With Jones now sidelined for multiple weeks, Jordan Mason will take over as the Vikings' No. 1 running back, and he should get the majority of the carries for the next few games.
Mason has emerged this season as the best back and has even outperformed Jones in the first two games of the season.
Zavier Scott will still maintain his RB2 status after a solid training camp and preseason with Minnesota. Akers will most likely begin as the third-string running back behind Scott and only come into the game if another injury occurs.
Don't expect Akers to carry a heavy load during the next few weeks, but the Vikings' running back situation is worth monitoring to see when Jones returns.