MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings have made a strategic move to bolster their running back depth by trading for Cam Akers for the second consecutive year. On Tuesday, the Vikings agreed to send a conditional sixth-round draft pick to the Houston Texans as part of the deal, which depended on Akers successfully completing a physical examination.

In this transaction, the Vikings will trade a conditional sixth-round pick for the 2026 draft in exchange for Akers and a conditional seventh-round pick, also scheduled for 2026. Akers, originally a second-round draft selection by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 when Kevin O’Connell served as the team’s offensive coordinator, joined the Vikings on September 20, 2023, through a previous trade with the Rams. During his time with the Vikings, he accumulated 138 yards on the ground and 70 yards in receiving over the course of six games before suffering a serious injury to his Achilles tendon, which resulted in him missing the remainder of the season.

This year, Akers signed with the Texans after he considered rejoining the Vikings. He contributed 147 rushing yards and 16 receiving yards during five games, stepping in to support the team while Joe Mixon dealt with injuries. Over five seasons in the NFL, Akers has accumulated 1,728 rushing yards and 336 receiving yards. Notably, he showcased his skills during the 2021 postseason, where he led the league with 67 rushing attempts, playing an instrumental role in helping the Rams secure a Super Bowl championship.

As the Vikings look ahead to their upcoming game, they may need to navigate the absence of starting running back Aaron Jones Sr., who sustained a hip injury in the last match. Should Jones be sidelined, Ty Chandler is expected to take on the starting role.