Austin Ekeler, the electric running back of the Washington Commanders, has a torn right Achilles. Unfortunately, this injury will cause him to miss the remainder of the season. The injury occurred during a passing play with just 5:50 remaining in the game, as Ekeler fell to the ground without any contact. This twist of fate has been of no fault to the player and has even fans devastated.
Following the illegal hit, Ekeler would exit the game in the fourth quarter. The first hint that something was wrong was when he was seen leaving the locker room on crutches and a walking boot. The look on his face said it all as he was obviously devastated by the injury. Ekeler has expressed his gratitude to fans during this challenging time, stating, “Thank you all for the love and well wishes. I appreciate you all.”
Last year, Ekeler was instrumental to his team success, with 367 yards rushing combined with 366 yards through the air. It is his versatility that makes him such a valuable weapon for the Commanders. This is particularly the case after doing so following their trade of Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round draft pick last month. Ekeler became the main back for Washington, finding a nice groove on third downs and in spread sets.
Before joining the Commanders, Ekeler spent his first seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers after making their roster as an undrafted free agent. His rise from undrafted free agent to an offensive centerpiece has been paved by the steadfastness, mission and motivation needed — surviving the odds.
While Ekeler starts to address his recovery journey, his absence will certainly have an effect on the Commanders’ offensive strategy and tempo. Needless to say, the team will have to reconsider its strategies going forward, now without one of its top-scoring players.
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