Kevin O'Connell explains why the Vikings traded for Cam Akers

For the second year in a row, the Vikings traded for running back Cam Akers. The former Texan running back had 40 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown for Houston this season before Minnesota traded for him.

The trade raised a few eyebrows around the league and the main reason was because of starter Aaron Jones and what that signaled about the injury he suffered in London two weeks ago. Jones left with a hip injury, but head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters on Wednesday that the trade had no bearing on the current situation.

“Has no bearing on our current running back situation,” O’Connell said. “Aaron is going to progress throughout the week and hopefully has a chance to go on Sunday. Ty Chandler and Myles Gaskin and Cam will work behind (him). I like where Ty’s at, obviously, Aaron Jones has been a huge impact to our team, so getting to solidify that depth at that position, with an urgency to run the football throughout the rest of the season, we wanted to make sure we could do that now when an opportunity became available.”

It ultimately sounds like coach O’Connell just really likes Akers as a running back and Minnesota did want to re-sign him this offseason but the two sides didn’t agree on a deal. Akers will now get an opportunity to earn a potential backup role to Jones if he can beat out Chandler.