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Vikings expected to re-sign former second-round RB pending physical
The Vikings will have a new face leading their backfield this season after signing veteran running back Aaron Jones to a one-year deal in free agency.
That doesn't mean Minnesota is done adding to the room. The team reportedly plans to reunite with former second-round running back Cam Akers.
According to Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press, the No. 52 overall pick in 2020 is expected to re-sign with the Vikings if he passes an upcoming physical.
Minnesota traded for Akers in September 2023, but his first year with the team was a disappointment.
He rushed for just 138 yards and one touchdown while also reeling in 11 catches for 70 yards in six games before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 9.
Of course, that has left Akers' status for the start of the 2024 season up in the air, especially given his injury history.
The 25-year-old also tore his Achilles in July 2021. However, he did recover in time to play for the Los Angeles Rams on their way to winning Super Bowl LVI.
If Akers is healthy and does re-sign with the Vikings, he's still far from guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster. He must battle with running backs Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, DeWayne McBride and Myles Gaskin in training camp.
Akers has battled back from injury before, and although he has yet to live up to his second-round expectations, it wouldn't be surprising if he found his way onto the roster as a complement to Jones in 2024.
Akers has rushed for 1,581 yards and 11 touchdowns in his four-year NFL career.
More must-reads:
- Vikings second-year WR believes he's taken his game 'to the next level'
- Let freedom ring: Contracts NFC teams would love to jettison
- The 'Most prominent quarterbacks in Minnesota Vikings history' quiz
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Three teams that should take a flier on Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2025 season
Former New York Giants superstar and current free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. emerged in the headlines on Tuesday afternoon. The 32-year-old took to X (formerly Twitter) to shut down a fake report that he was retiring from the NFL. Beckham spent the 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins in a very limited role, recording just nine receptions for 55 yards in nine games. However, he was a solid contributor as a Baltimore Raven the year prior, showing that he can still provide some production at this point in his career. Given that OBJ has no interest in calling it quits just yet, let’s look at three teams that should take a shot on the three-time Pro Bowler to see how much juice he’s got left in him. New York Giants How about a reunion in the Big Apple? It would only be fitting for Beckham to finish his career in the place where it all started. Superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers runs the show on offense, but after that, there are plenty of question marks. Wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton slot in as solid options behind Nabers, but it would not hurt to add a veteran like Beckham into the mix. He knows what it's like playing in such a big market and could mentor the Giants' young offensive weapons while providing some depth production when called upon. Las Vegas Raiders There may not be a team with more of a need at the wide receiver position than the Las Vegas Raiders. The targets are understandably funneled to superstar tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but they need help beyond those two. Third-year wide receiver Tre Tucker and rookie wideouts Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. are next in line. While those three may play big roles right from the start, the Raiders could certainly use another experienced pass-catcher, and Beckham is a nice option to fill that role. Perhaps he even shows himself to be worthy of the WR2 spot. Buffalo Bills The third team that could be in play for Beckham is the Buffalo Bills. With Josh Allen in his prime, they need to continue putting weapons around him whenever possible. Second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman and free-agent signing Joshua Palmer are atop the depth chart in Buffalo, while reliable wideout Khalil Shakir is nicked up with an ankle injury. Longtime Carolina Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel also remains in the mix but is dealing with a hamstring ailment and has had injury woes in the past. Outside of Shakir, it's hard to know what you're going to get from the rest of the position group. Beckham will likely want to join a contender or somewhere he can play more of a factor than he did with the Dolphins in 2024-25, so keep an eye on the Bills.
Notre Dame believed to be trending toward surprise choice at quarterback
The quarterback battle for Notre Dame is set to come to an end shortly, and it might be a surprise considering how the national media predicted the race to finish. Per Eric Hansen of On3, head coach Marcus Freeman is set to name the starting quarterback by Sunday when he meets the media. The Irish are still letting the quarterback battle play out until then, but it appears sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey is the favorite to start at Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Hurricanes on Aug. 31. Minchey has shown improvement in numerous areas throughout camp, and he has the edge on freshman quarterback CJ Carr in what is believed to be the final week of the competition. "As of Wednesday, the line between 1 and 2 remained blurred," Hansen wrote. "The tiebreaker may eventually go to Minchey, per the source, because of his ability to be a true running threat and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s preference to have that element to put pressure on opposing defenses. "But he also has a preference for QBs who can transcend adversity, and the training camp phase was choreographed to test precisely that. While both contenders responded persistently in a manner that defies their inexperience, Minchey has been exceptional in that regard." Throughout the summer, ESPN writers such as Bill Connelly and Mark Schlabach have written as though it were a forgone conclusion that Carr would win the battle in training camp. However, Minchey appears to be a natural fit for how offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock likes to scheme against a defense. He helped dual-threat Jayden Daniels earn a Heisman Trophy in 2023 and took Notre Dame to a national championship appearance with Riley Leonard. The battle isn't over, but the edge appears to be running Minchey's way.
King of New York: Pete Alonso breaks major Mets all-time record
Pete Alonso is now the New York Mets' all-time home run king. With his opposite-field, two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, Alonso clubbed the 253rd and 254th home runs of his Mets career, moving him into sole possession of first place on the team's all-time list. He moved two home runs ahead of the previous record-holder, Darryl Strawberry, who hit 252 home runs with the team between the 1983 and 1990 seasons. Here is a look at his record-setting home run. Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, Alonso hit his 254th home run: Along with the all-time Mets home run lead, Alonso is also the Mets' single-season home run leader with 53 home runs during the 2019 season. Strawberry congratulated Alonso on breaking his record: His home runs on Tuesday were his 27th and 28th of the season. It is a big deal for Alonso because there was some doubt this past offseason about whether he would have a chance to set this record. Even though he was close, the uncertainty around his future, given his free-agent status, created a lot of questions about where he would play. Ultimately, the Mets re-signed him to a two-year, $54 million contract that includes an opt-out clause following the 2025 season. That opt-out will again create some uncertainty about his future, but it is pretty clear Alonso still has a lot of power left in his bat. Whether he returns to the Mets or goes somewhere else, he will remain the franchise's greatest home run hitter for the foreseeable future. He is now on top of the record books for the single season and career.
Terry McLaurin caught in the crossfire of Commanders' increasing obsession
Terry McLaurin is looking to be paid in keeping with some of the league's best wide receivers. Unfortunately for the player, the Washington Commanders are basing their valuation on what he could do for the franchise moving forward. And according to one respected team insider, the major issue lies in the metrics. McLaurin has done everything in his power to force the issue. He skipped voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamp. He held out of training camp before holding in on the physically unable to perform list. He even sent shockwaves through the organization by handing in a trade request. Commanders' increasing reliance on analytics is working against Terry McLaurin Adam Peters didn't blink at any stage. The general manager isn't just going to throw endless amounts of cash to McLaurin. He wants a deal that benefits the player of the franchise — something that provides him with some extra leeway in case performance levels regress. There's been no sign of that as yet, but one doesn't have to look far around the league for examples of wideouts who fall off quickly after getting their third NFL contracts. It's a complex situation. John Keim from ESPN, citing sources around the league, thought that around $28 million per year could be the eventual compromise. McLaurin is going off D.K. Metcalf's recent deal, but the Commanders' increasing reliance on analytics makes this a real stumbling block. One league source said he could see the Commanders eventually agreeing to pay $28 million per year -- but would that be enough? According to various reports and multiple sources, DK Metcalf's contract has served as a guide for [Terry] McLaurin -- though whether that's in terms of average per year ($33 million) or total guarantees ($60 million) remains uncertain. The Commanders rely heavily on analytics, and the numbers aren't kind to receivers at that age. According to ESPN Research, over the past five seasons only three receivers 31 years or older have played at least 10 games and averaged 70-plus receiving yards per game; six have averaged 60-plus.John Keim Keim added that the Commanders are looking to pay McLaurin not based on his previous production, but rather his future outlook. That's probably why the wideout feels disrespected and undervalued during this ongoing saga that has dragged on much longer than fans ever thought possible. In the real world, past performance would be the biggest factor in getting a new contract or a potential pay increase from an employer. But as we all know, the NFL is an alternate reality, and the Commanders' unwillingness to budge put the onus squarely on McLaurin's camp to back down. The former third-round pick out of Ohio State was on the sidelines watching this week's team scrimmage. McLaurin also spoke briefly wth Peters, which brought hope that something was imminent. But unless the wideout threatens to sit out in the regular season and lose $850,000 a week in game checks, the Commanders have the upper hand. That's the bottom line. More Commanders news and analysis
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