In a surprising move, the Houston Texans have once again parted ways with running back Cam Akers, shipping him off to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a draft pick, according to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero.
The Texans have agreed to send Akers and a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick to the Vikings in return for a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick. The trade is pending a physical, but once completed, Akers will be reunited with a familiar face in Minnesota.
This isn’t the first time that Akers has found himself in purple and gold. Last season, the Los Angeles Rams traded him to the Vikings, where he played six games under head coach Kevin O’Connell before his season was cut short due to injury.
“Cam knows our system and he’s a great fit for our team,” O’Connell said of the trade. “We’re excited to have him back in Minnesota.”
The move comes as Vikings starting running back Aaron Jones is dealing with a hip injury. However, Pelissero clarified that the trade was not made in reaction to Jones’ injury, but rather as a way for the Vikings to add depth at the position.
Meanwhile, in Houston, Akers had become the odd man out in a crowded backfield that includes Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce. Despite his talent, Akers saw limited playing time, with just two snaps in the Texans’ Week 6 win over the New England Patriots.
With Akers now out of the picture, Mixon and Pierce will have an opportunity to lead the Texans’ rushing attack moving forward.
The trade marks yet another chapter in Akers’ NFL journey, as he once again finds himself in familiar territory with the Minnesota Vikings. Only time will tell how he will fit into the team’s plans and contribute on the field.
