Rams trade Akers to Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are acquiring running back Cam Akers from the Los Angeles Rams, both teams announced Wednesday.

The Rams sent Akers and a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick to the Vikings in exchange for a conditional sixth-round selection in 2026.

Rams coach Sean McVay said Monday that an Akers trade was likely on the horizon and that the Rams had discussions with other teams about the former second-round pick. Akers was made a healthy scratch for the team's Week 2 contest against the San Francisco 49ers. Akers struggled in Week 1, rushing for just 29 yards on 22 carries.

In Minnesota, Akers will be reunited with head coach Kevin O'Connell, who served as his offensive coordinator with the Rams. Akers will join a backfield that's rushed for an NFL-worst 69 yards through two games. Alexander Mattison is the team's leading rusher with 62 yards, but he's averaging just 3.3 yards per carry.

Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said Thursday that the team still has a lot of faith in Mattison despite adding another starting-caliber rusher to the backfield.

"We haven't lost confidence in Alex Mattison," Phillips told reporters, including ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "We still feel very strongly in Alex and (Ty Chandler) and those guys being able to go in and produce."

Akers rushed for 786 yards and seven touchdowns across 15 appearances last season. It was his first full campaign since tearing his Achilles in July 2021, which sidelined him for the first 17 weeks of that season.

With Akers gone, L.A. will likely continue to rely on running back Kyren Williams. Williams has tallied 104 rushing yards and four total touchdowns through two games.