The Minnesota Vikings’ running back room took a brutal hit this week with the news that star tailback Aaron Jones has been placed on short-term injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the next four weeks. The injury throws a wrench into an already evolving backfield dynamic, leaving the team scrambling to stabilize its rushing attack. With Jones out, the spotlight now shines squarely on Jordan Mason, who’s been the team’s de facto RB1 through the first two games of the 2025 season, out-carrying Jones 25 to 15 even before this setback. But with no other Viking back logging a single carry this year, the pressure on Mason to carry the load is immense.
Enter a familiar face—or rather, a very familiar one. The Vikings have turned to Cam Akers, a running back who’s now on his third stint with the franchise, this time signing to the practice squad, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Akers, a former Super Bowl champion with the Los Angeles Rams, brings a mix of experience and grit to a backfield in desperate need of depth. But what does his return mean for a team already juggling a thin roster at the position?
Akers’ journey with the Vikings is a tale of persistence. Initially traded to Minnesota in 2023 after losing his starting role with the Rams to Kyren Williams—who later inked a three-year, $33 million extension—Akers showed flashes of potential during his first stint. The following offseason, he signed with the Houston Texans, only to be traded back to the Vikings for a second go-around. This past summer, head coach Kevin O’Connell opted to bolster the backfield with Mason and retain Ty Chandler as primary backups to Jones, leaving Akers to sign with the New Orleans Saints in June. Unfortunately for Akers, he was cut by the Saints in late August, failing to secure a spot on their final roster.
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Now, Akers is back in purple and gold, hoping to carve out a role in a backfield that’s suddenly under siege. His best season came in 2022 with the Rams, where he racked up 786 yards and nine touchdowns, a solid follow-up to his breakout rookie campaign in 2020. However, a devastating Achilles tear in 2021 derailed his trajectory, limiting him to a lackluster 2.6 yards per carry in the playoffs that year despite 67 attempts. While Akers has proven he can be a reliable complementary back, his path to reclaiming a significant role is far from guaranteed.
With Jones sidelined, Jordan Mason is now the unquestioned RB1 in Minnesota, a role he’s been unofficially filling since the season began. Mason’s emergence as the 1A to Jones’ 1B has been one of the early storylines of the Vikings’ 2025 campaign, and his 25 carries through two games signal the coaching staff’s confidence in his ability. But with Jones out, Mason is poised to take on a semi bell-cow role, a stark contrast to the 60-40 touch split he shared with Jones. The question now is whether Mason can handle the physical and mental demands of being the focal point of Minnesota’s ground game.
Behind Mason, the depth chart gets murky. Ty Chandler remains on the roster, but his lack of carries this season raises questions about his role. Former Indianapolis Colt Zavier Scott is also lurking, waiting for his chance to break through. Akers, despite his experience, isn’t guaranteed the RB2 spot, especially since he’s currently on the practice squad rather than the active 53-man roster. However, his familiarity with the Vikings’ system and his proven track record—786 yards in a single season isn’t nothing—make him a strong candidate for a game-day promotion as early as this Sunday for Week 3.
The addition of Akers is a calculated move by O’Connell to bring stability and experience to a backfield in crisis. While Mason is likely to shoulder the bulk of the carries, Akers’ presence offers a safety net, providing a veteran option who knows the playbook and has a history of performing under pressure. His time with the Vikings in 2023, combined with his prior NFL experience, could see him quickly integrated into the game plan, especially if the team opts to elevate him from the practice squad.
For now, the Vikings’ rushing attack rests on Mason’s shoulders, with Akers and potentially Scott vying for touches behind him. The loss of Jones is a massive blow, but Minnesota’s decision to bring back a known quantity in Akers shows they’re not willing to leave their ground game to chance. As the team prepares for Week 3, all eyes will be on how this reshuffled backfield performs—and whether Akers can make the most of his third chance in Minnesota.