The Los Angeles Rams traded running back Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings Wednesday for a swap of sixth-round draft picks in 2026. Akers began the season with the starting job for Los Angeles but was a healthy scratch in Week 2 as the team quickly turned to backup Kyren Williams.
After ruling Akers inactive ahead of Week 2, head coach Sean McVay said earlier in the week that the team was looking for interested trade partners for the former second-round pick out of Florida State. The Vikings, struggling with their own underperforming run game, agreed to terms quickly.
“I think he did a lot of really good things and I think Cam is a quality player,” McVay told reporters Monday. “I think sometimes it boils down to, alright, is it a fit? What are some of the best opportunities based on putting together what you think is the best way to circumvent or be able to organize your team? And so this isn’t an indictment on any individual.”
Akers’ fate may have been sealed after Williams’ performance Sunday against the 49ers, as the 2022 fifth-round pick ran for 54 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and caught six passes out of the backfield for another 48 yards and a second touchdown. He has now scored four times in two games, despite splitting work in Week 1. In that game against the Seahawks, Akers found the end zone but only ran for 29 yards on 22 carries.
Though the Rams seem to have found their new starting running back, the Vikings are far from certain after a disappointing early start from Alexander Mattison. The longtime backup and replacement for Dalvin Cook, has not yet capitalized on his first opportunity to lead Minnesota’s backfield, rushing for 62 yards across two games. Akers will likely come in to share part of the workload and at least contend with Mattison, who has had very little competition for snaps since the season started.
“I really care a lot about Cam and I’m appreciative of some of the challenging things that we’ve gone through and where we ended up getting to in terms of our relationship and our ability to communicate clearly, which is why it’s kind of tough for me to hear that there is confusion but I know that I’ll wish him nothing but the best,” McVay went on to say Monday. “I think he’s got a lot of ability and that’s really all I want to be able to add on that, but I am grateful for the many contributions that he made over the course of his career as a Ram.”
