Big performance from Dameon Pierce in Week 6 could have led to Texans trading RB Cam Akers
The Houston Texans are trading running back Cam Akers and a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick, per a report from NFL insider Tom Pelissero. This is the second straight season that the Vikings have traded for Akers. Minnesota acquired him from the Los Angeles Rams in late September of […]
The Houston Texans are trading running back Cam Akers and a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick, per a report from NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
This is the second straight season that the Vikings have traded for Akers. Minnesota acquired him from the Los Angeles Rams in late September of 2023. Akers appeared in six games for the Vikings before tearing his Achilles in Week 9, ending his season. He then signed a one-year contract with the Texans during the offseason.
Akers started two games for Houston and appeared in five, rushing for a total of 147 yards and one touchdown. He'll now return to Minnesota to provide depth behind starter Aaron Jones. Some have speculated the trade for Akers was due to concerns about a hip injury that Jones suffered in Week 5, but Pelissero reported that isn't the case.
With Dameon Pierce returning from a hamstring injury that he suffered back in Week 1, Akers became lost in the shuffle in the running back room, receiving just two carries in last week's win over the New England Patriots. Pierce, on the other hand, looked rejuvenated as he averaged 9.5 yards per carry and broke away for a 54-yard touchdown.
In fact, Pierce being healthy and looking explosive may have made the Texans' decision to trade Akers a little easier. Pierce and starter Joe Mixon could make up one of the best running back tandems in the league. Dare Ogunbowale also provides solid depth off the bench. Getting a little bit of draft capital for Akers rather than having sit on the sidelines for the rest of the year was a good move by the Texans.
