Vikings running back Cam Akers will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles tendon.

That was believed to be the case as soon as Akers went down on Sunday, and it was confirmed by an MRI today, coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed today.

Related players: Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu

This is the second time Akers has torn his Achilles. He previously tore it in July of 2021 when he was with the Rams and made a remarkably quick recovery, getting back on the field for the final game of the regular season. But even if he can repeat that remarkably quick recovery this time, he won’t be at full speed until April, the story said. Akers was cutting into Mattison's time since getting up to speed after being traded. The RB2 job would seem to go back to Chandler, although the Vikings, sitting at 5-4, may very well bring in another back.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters after Sunday's win over the Falcons that running back Cam Akers suffered an Achilles injury.

Another such injury for Akers, who made a miraculous recovery two years ago from a July Achilles injury to return at the end of the season and participate in the playoffs. Akers was actually the emergency quarterback behind Josh Dobbs after the injury to starting quarterback Jaren Hall. Based on what we've seen from him and Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Akers should be good for the start of next season, but two Achilles tears is certainly a big concern going forward.

Head coach Kevin O'Connell referred to Cam Akers, acquired Sept. 20 via trade from the Rams, as complementing starter Alexander Mattison, who still dominated the playing time and workload with 98 yards from scrimmage. But O'Connell envisions a role for both.

"Seeing how [Akers] complements Alex," O'Connell said after the game, "when those guys can both stay fresh and be maximizing their opportunities, it was exciting to see that [Sunday]. ... Cam is always going to have real firm, solid finish [to runs] just like Alex does, where yards after contact should be a good number for him."

In his Vikings debut, Akers was effective with 51 yards on seven touches, the story pointed out. He flashed acceleration and power, while benefiting from the season's best blocking and perhaps the lightest competition to date, the story added. Akers had a three-down role, taking every snap in a 10-play drive in the second quarter. But as the story also said, Mattison still controlled most of the playing time and since the trade has carried 37 times for 188 yards (5.08 YPC) in two games, vs. the first two games where he ran 19 times for 62 yards.

The Vikings are planning to get newly acquired tailback Cam Akers involved in at least part of their game plan for their next game Sunday at the Carolina Panthers.

Related players: Alexander Mattison

The story was mainly about head coach Kevin O'Connell threatening to bench players because of turnovers. As the story said, Mattison fumbled twice against the Eagles in Week 2, and fumbled two more times in Week 3 - however he was ruled down on one and that his forward progress stopped on another. While Mattison produced better fantasy numbers, Akers looks to be a threat to some of his touches going forward. Also, Kirk Cousins threw an interception at the goal line and another in the end zone while TE T.J. Hockenson lost a fumble this past week.

Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns are exploring Rams running back Cam Akers and former Cleveland running back Kareem Hunt.

Related players: Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong

Just as we posted this news item, it broke the Browns are hosting Hunt for a visit. The Browns would obviously have to give up a draft pick to get Akers. As for Hunt, he spent the last four seasons with the Browns so a reunion makes sense. He has not signed with anyone since his contract expired following last season. In late August, Hunt had reportedly received offers from four teams. But the running back was waiting for “the right offer” and didn’t sign any of them, the story went on to say. The team recently said the RB1 duties will go to Ford while Strong sits behind him on the depth chart for now.

Rams head coach Sean McVay addressed running back Cam Akers’ status at his press conference following the team’s 30-23 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.

Akers was inactive and a report from Jay Glazer of Fox Sports indicated that the Rams are trying to trade him. If that sounds familiar, it is likely because Akers asked to be traded last season and the Rams tried to make it happen but Akers remained with the team.

Related players: Kyren Williams, Ronnie Rivers, Royce Freeman

McVay, according to the story, said, “this is different” than last year’s situation and said the decision to sit Akers was “in the best interest of our football team.” Perhaps the biggest fantasy take from this is Williams, Rivers, and Freeman handled the running back duties and McVay said that will remain the case “as we move forward.”

If Williams is still on your wire, he likely won't be there for long. Williams played a majority of the snaps, and again played well scoring two more TDs, while Rivers ended up with one catch for four yards. It remains to be seen if Akers will play for the Rams again but as the story said, it's looking like his time in LA is over.

Kyren Williams out-touched Cam Akers 14 to 11 until the Rams took a 24-13 lead.

Our very own John Daigle also pointed out Akers recorded 11 touches (all carries) to Kyren's 1 over the last 9:09 of the fourth quarter to ice the game. Williams ran 30 routes (73%) to Akers' 4 (10%). Williams could be one of the bigger fantasy-related stories of Week 1, at least at the running back position. Williams finished with a rushing line of 15-52-2 while Akers ended with 22 carries and just 29 yards before adding a TD to help owners salvage some fantasy production. Williams will likely be a heavily-targeted free agent pick up this week in your league.

Rams are bringing back veteran running back Sony Michel. It’s a one-year deal.

Related Players: Cam Akers, Kyren Williams, Zach Evans

While this may not seem like that big of a deal, this could turn out as bad news for Akers' between-the-20s and goalline ceiling. Michel could also be non-factor training camp release.

At the least, this probably puts a halt on Zach Evans as a late-round dart throw until we find out more details about the contract.

On Monday, Rams head coach Sean McVay cited that recent success in response to a question about whether the Rams would consider dealing Cam Akers this offseason.

“Oh, no,” McVay said, via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. “I think right now, with what he’s done continuing to build on that momentum, I think it’d be silly based on what a great job he’s done to think of it anything differently than him being a big part of what you want to be able to do moving forward.

The story summed it up nicely: there was a point this season when it looked like running back Akers had played his final snap for the Rams, but attempts to trade him didn’t go anywhere and Akers eventually returned to the lineup. Akers has run 64 times for 285 yards and six touchdowns over the last four games, including a 118-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Broncos in Week 16. As of now, Akers looks like he has a future with the Rams, especially since the team doesn't have a lot of draft assets. If the Rams can get back to their Super Bowl potential, Akers could have some fantasy value in 2023.