The Minnesota Vikings are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to the Super Bowl. The 5-0 team is keen to ensure full support for RB Aaron Jones. For this, the answer is a reunion with RB Cam Akers. But how did they manage this deal with the Houston Texans? The NFL Insiders have all the juicy details.

The trade market is on. Straight from the horse’s mouth, the NFL Insiders’ Tom Pelissero wrote on X about the deal, “Trade! The #Texans are sending RB Cam Akers to the #Vikings, sources say.” And what is the price, he added, “Houston gets a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick in exchange for Akers and a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick. It’s a reunion for Akers and Minnesota, which also traded for him last season.” The return of Akers will provide depth to the Vikings.

This looks like a profitable deal for the Texans as well. With the return of their top RB Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce in the mix, they no longer require Akers. They both proved to be a lethal weapon in the week 6 game against the New England Patriots. Mixon, who returned after an injury, had 13 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Pierce finished the game with 76 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. With this enthralling performance, the Texans won 41-21, becoming the 5-1 team of the season. The return of this pair also led to a limited outing for Akers, as he made just two snaps in the week 6 game.

SuperCam had signed a one-year contract, worth $1,175,000 with the Houston Texans this year. They traded him back to the Vikings in less than 3 months. This could be a result of Achille’s injury in two back-to-back seasons, pushing him for late-round picks. With this trade, the Texans have a conditional sixth-round pick and a conditional seventh-round pick. Looks like a winning situation for them.

Cam Akers’ chemistry with the Vikings coach can be a plus

This is a deja vu for Akers! He caught a similar deal in the 2023 season. The Vikings traded him from the Los Angeles Rams. What was common for him in stints with both teams? It was coach Kevin O’Connell. He has shared the locker room with the coach twice. 

He worked under the wings of O’Connell during his time with Los Angeles Rams from 2020-21. Sadly, his season ended abruptly as he tore his Achilles at a training camp. He returned strongly in the 2022 season with 7 TDs and 786 rushing yards, his career-best so far. Also, they together won the Super Bowl LVI, adding a feather to their respective caps.

Seems like, Akers left a strong impression on the coach. In February 2022, O’Connell joined the Vikings, and SuperCam joined them in September 2023. But this stint ended fast. In the week 9 game against the Atlanta Falcons, Cam suffered another Achilles injury. He then got traded again in the 2024 season.

This time, the Houstons signed him. Akers played 5 games this season with the Texans, with 147 rushing yards and 1 TD. With their RB Aaron Jones struggling with a hip injury, the Vikes missed him more. They have once again dialed for Akers to give much-needed depth to their line-up. Although Jones is fit for the week 6 game, the team has cushioned the spot with some backup to avoid any last-minute dilemma. 

Both teams will have crucial games on Sunday, Oct 20. The Vikings will face the Detroit Lions, while the Texans will have a matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Hopefully, both teams have settled their lineup for good with this trade.