Cam Akers not re-signing with Vikings just got even more confusing

Before eventually signing with the Houston Texans earlier this year, it seemed like veteran running back Cam Akers was going to be returning to the Minnesota Vikings for a second season in purple and gold.

Akers re-signing with the Vikings seemed as close to a done deal as it could get without a pen actually hitting the paper, and all he had to do was pass a physical. Passing that didn't seem impossible, despite the fact that he tore his Achilles last November.

Well, some time went by, and then all of a sudden, news broke that he had signed with the Texans. This seemed to be a pretty big indication that he didn't pass his physical with Minnesota, and any sort of return to the Twin Cities was canceled.

Cam Akers not returning to the Minnesota Vikings even more puzzling after his preseason performance with the Houston Texans

On Thursday, Akers and the Texans took on the Chicago Bears to kick off the 2024 NFL preseason in the league's annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

With the former Vikings running back currently fighting for a spot on Houston's roster, he wound up getting some snaps in Thursday's preseason matchup against the Bears.

Akers was on the field for several snaps in the first half of the contest and he finished with 31 total yards and a touchdown on seven touches.

His trip to the end zone coincidentally involved another former Minnesota player as he hauled in a four-yard touchdown pass from former Vikings quarterback Case Keenum near the end of the second quarter.

It was impressive to see Akers out there moving pretty normally despite tearing his Achilles less than nine months ago. But his performance also makes it even more confusing that he didn't re-sign with Minnesota earlier this year.

Did Akers fail his physical with the Vikings and pass it with Houston? Did Minnesota possibly present him with a super low contract offer? He only signed a one-year deal worth $1.175 million with the Texans, so it's hard to imagine money playing much of a factor in him not returning to the Vikings.

These are questions we might never get the answers to, but the saga of Akers not re-signing with Minnesota this year is definitely one of the strangest moments from the team's 2024 offseason.

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