Vikings running back Cam Akers has developed into an important piece

Not long after the Vikings took care of business in the 30-12 win over the Chicago Bears, coach Kevin O’Connell heaped praise on an unsung hero from the game with a couple of sentences that might’ve gone unnoticed to anybody who wasn’t paying close attention.

“I thought there was some real physicality,” O’Connell said. “I loved Cam’s finish on the last touchdown.”

He was talking specifically about running back Cam Akers.

Never mind that stat line from Akers wasn’t anything spectacular as he logged 10 carries for 24 yards and a touchdown. The fact that Akers ran with purpose near the goal line was enough for O’Connell to highlight him.

As much as Akers appreciated the praise from O’Connell, however, he was more focused on the impact he’s been able to make for the Vikings.

“It’s been fun,” Akers said. “It’s a blessing to be able to be here and compete.”

That was far from a guarantee last season when Akers learned that he had once again suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Though he had rehabbed the same injury earlier in his career, Akers said he never thought about hanging up the cleats. His passion for the sport wouldn’t allow him to do that.

Now he’s back with the Vikings and thriving in his role out of the backfield.

“After going through what he’s gone through, every rep for him is like a bonus in his life,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillip said. “He’s so thankful for any opportunity that he gets and it’s shown with how hard he’s run.”

That’s an important piece of the puzzle for the Vikings as they continue their pursuit of an NFC North title.

Not only does Akers shouldering some of the load make them harder to play against, it allows running back Aaron Jones to take a breather from time to time. That’s something that Jones acknowledged before going into detail about how much he’s learned from Akers in their short time as teammates.

“When somebody has gone through a lot they have some wisdom and knowledge to give,” Jones said. “He’s there feeding it to me. He stays in my ear and I’m the same way in his ear. It’s a blessing to see him out here.”

As he opened up about his journey to this point, Akers was asked a simple question: Does it make playing that much more rewarding?

“Yeah,” Akers said with smile. “It’s safe to say that.”

Briefly

On the injury report, the Vikings listed cornerback Fabian Moreau (hip), defensive tackle Jalen Redmond (concussion), and safety Harrison Smith (foot) as non participants while edge rusher Pat Jones II (knee), right tackle Brian O’Neill (knee), and defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (knee) were limited participants.