A Different Ex-Vikings Playmaker Could Fill the Cam Akers Role
The Minnesota Vikings are apparently trying to find another offensive weapon: someone to spell newly acquired veteran running back Aaron Jones and third-year player Ty Chandler. Cam Akers was on the wishlist, but he either failed the pending physical with the Vikings or the Houston Texans made him a better offer.
A Different Ex-Vikings Playmaker Could Fill the Cam Akers Role
Making an effort to improve the catastrophic rushing attack has been a priority. There’s a reason why the Vikings decided to eat Alexander Mattison’s dead cap hit of $1.25 million in addition to paying Jones $7 million. However, behind the designated duo of Jones/Chandler, head coach Kevin O’Connell is practically bereft of any backup options. Neither DeWayne McBride nor kick returner Kene Nwangwu have a track record of efficient play, and Myles Gaskin hasn’t been a serious contributor to an NFL offense since 2021.
An outside option could fill that RB3 job, especially as an old friend who started his NFL journey in Minnesota is available: Jerick McKinnon.
The Georgia Southern product was Rick Spielman’s third-round pick in 2014, the first year of Mike Zimmer’s tenure. He shined at the Scouting Combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds and repping the bench press 32 times.
His tenure with the Vikings started on a depth chart with Adrian Peterson, which obviously limited expectations for him early in his career. However, Peterson landed on the Comissioner’s Exempt List in 2014, so rookie McKinnon was asked to contribute. He rushed for 538 yards in only 11 games and showed his receiving skills with 27 catches in the Teddy Bridgewater-led offense.
With Peterson’s return in 2015, McKinnon’s role declined, and he collected only 271 rushing yards in his sophomore season. The star runner suffered a knee injury in 2016, which automatically boosted McKinnon’s production, and he once again registered over 500 rushing yards. His best season came undoubtedly in 2017. Dalvin Cook was drafted, and Latavius Murray signed, indicating he might be the odd man out in Minnesota. Indeed, his role diminished to only ten carries through the first four games.
Cook’s season-ending knee injury in that fourth game elevated McKinnon. He formed the dynamic one-two punch with Murray, helping the team advance to the NFC Championship game despite losing top weapon Cook and quarterback Sam Bradford.
His journey continued in San Francisco. The 49ers signed him in free agency after the 2017 season, but a torn ACL and a setback one year later cost him two seasons. He returned to the field in a rotational role in 2020.
Throughout the last three seasons, McKinnon played with the Kansas City Chiefs as a receiving threat out of the backfield. He only tabulated 413 rushing yards and two rushing scores in those three campaigns but logged 811 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns through the air, winning two Super Bowls with the Chiefs.
So, how does he fit in with the Vikings? McKinnon is 32, and injuries bothered him in his 2023 season. It’s unlikely that he can play a huge role. However, the Vikings need a third reliable running back, and he is ideally suited for that role.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
The Vikings are Doing the Right Thing
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt