Former FSU Star Running Leaves Falcons Game, Minnesota Vikings Confirm Achilles Injury

The injury bug has struck once again for the Minnesota Vikings just a week after quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending injury last week. Former Florida State star running back Cam Akers left the Vikings’ week-9 matchup with an apparent ankle injury, and the team fears the worst.

Akers was carted off to the locker room in the fourth quarter to be looked at by medical staff. Before being ruled out, Akers had eight rushes for 25 yards and three catches for 13 yards.

The Vikings were forced to turn to Akers in an emergency quarterback role behind Joshua Dobbs after the Cousins injury, and backup quarterback Jaren Hall was ruled out of the game with a concussion.

Akers previously injured his right Achilles in 2021, but it appears the tear occurred on his left leg. During the game, the team ruled him out with “an ankle injury,” typical for Achilles tears. Afterward, head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that it was indeed the case.

Minnesota will likely turn to running back Alexander Mattison, who had been splitting reps with Akers this season. Mattison had 16 carries for 44 yards on the night.

The Vikings acquired Akers earlier this season in a trade deal with the Los Angeles Rams for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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NEW DELHI: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall and wide receiver K.J. Osborn were dealt a setback during Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Both players sustained concussions in the first half of the contest, forcing them to be ruled out for the remainder of the game.
In his first NFLstart, Jaren Hall’s promising outing was marred by injury when he attempted to scramble toward the end zone during the first quarter.

While advancing, he encountered a fierce challenge from Falcons cornerback Jeff Okudah and linebacker Kaden Elliss at the 1-yard line. Despite the hard hit, Hall displayed his resilience by walking off the field under his own power.

Hall, a rookie hailing from BYU, assumed the role of the starting quarterback this week as a replacement for Kirk Cousins, who suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in the previous Sunday’s game. Stepping in for Hall was Joshua Dobbs, who arrived as a replacement quarterback for the Vikings following a trade with the Arizona Cardinals, just before the trade deadline on Tuesday.

Before his injury, Jaren Hall showcased his potential by completing 5 of 6 pass attempts for a total of 78 yards, in addition to contributing two rushes for 11 yards.

Concurrently, K.J. Osborn was struck with a heavy hit shortly after making a 13-yard reception. The impact left him motionless on the field, with players from both teams converging in concern. However, Osborn exhibited signs of recovery as he was able to make his way to a waiting cart, which transported him to the locker room.