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.
First appeared on www.vikings.com