Vikings injury updates: Cam Akers, Christian Darrisaw, T.J. Hockenson

Late in the third quarter, Akers tried to plant his left foot after catching a pass and suffered the injury. It's the second straight week where a Vikings player has torn their Achilles; Kirk Cousins did so against the Packers.

Amazingly, Akers was able to return just five months after his 2021 Achilles tear, so he has experience with this type of recovery process.

"Cam's pretty bummed out," O'Connell said. "We're going to be with him every step of the way in the recovery from this. Something he's been through before and came back remarkably fast from that. And as I told him, that's how he should go about attacking this one the same exact way. I know he'll do that."

Ty Chandler will see an expanded role in the Vikings' backfield with Akers out.

In other injury news, O'Connell expects Christian Darrisaw and T.J. Hockenson to be limited this week in practice. Darrisaw missed the game in Atlanta with a groin issue that popped up on the injury report late in the week. Hockenson picked up a rib/midsection injury during the Falcons game but was able to battle through it and stay on the field.

The hope is that both players will progress enough to play against the Saints. Backup left tackle David Quessenberry played admirably in Darrisaw's absence.

Jaren Hall and K.J. Osborn are in the concussion protocol, so the Vikings will let that process play out for them while looking out for their long-term best interest.

As for Justin Jefferson, who is eligible to return from IR this week, the Vikings are still working through what the timeline looks like with his hamstring injury. O'Connell expects to have more of an update on Wednesday.