The Chargers are on track to be without their top running back this week against the Titans. Austin Ekeler is listed as doubtful for the game but will likely be downgraded further soon.
Ekeler is not expected to travel with the Chargers for the Week 2 road tilt, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper notes. Considering Ekeler missed all three Bolts practices this week, he was viewed as a longshot to suit up in Nashville.
This will be Ekeler’s first missed game since he contracted COVID-19 in December 2021 and missed a Texans matchup. The dynamic back has not missed a game due to injury since Nov. 22, 2020. In between that 2020 hamstring injury and the ankle ailment he encountered in Week 1, Ekeler has become one of the NFL’s best running backs. His touchdown against the Dolphins gave him an NFL-most 39 since the start of the 2021 season.
Ekeler looked to suffer the injury in the third quarter of the Bolts’ shootout loss to the Dolphins. He managed to squeeze in a few more plays but was walking with a limp. Still, the seventh-year back totaled 117 rushing yards in the game. Backup Joshua Kelley added 91 yards on the ground for a suddenly run-committed Chargers squad. Kelley, a 2020 fourth-round pick who has served as a top Ekeler backup throughout his career, will be expected to be Los Angeles’ lead back against the Titans.
Somehow a zero-time Pro Bowler despite leading the NFL in touchdowns over the past two seasons, Ekeler angled for a contract adjustment this offseason and ended up being granted permission to seek a trade. As the running back market crashed, significant trade interest did not emerge. The Chargers ended up agreeing to a small incentive package with their veteran starter. Ekeler, 28, remains tied to the four-year, $24.5MM deal he inked back in 2020.
Returning from this ankle injury and re-establishing his top-tier form will be critical for the Division II product’s 2024 earning potential. As of now, Ekeler is on track to hit free agency after this season. The Chargers have exclusive negotiating rights with the Western State (Colo.) alum until mid-March and can follow the Cowboys, Giants and Raiders’ path by franchise-tagging him as well. For the time being, Ekeler will aim to come back and deliver a third straight dominant season.
Why wait until the last paragraph to reveal it’s an ankle injury? Wouldn’t you normally start out with “he’s doubtful for week 2 with an ankle injury?”
It’s actually mentioned subtly in the third paragraph, but you’re right. You shouldn’t have to carefully scan the article to find out what the injury was.
Ekeler out, Bosa doubtful with hamstring misery….looks like rookies will need to shine on defense.
Offense will need to either have a surprise boost from Kelley and rookie Dotson or revert to more push from WR
Dynamic back? Outside of fantasy he’s a non issue. Zero 1000 yard seasons, zero all pro, zero 2nd team all pro, zero pro bowls and puts up numbers slightly better than Danny Woodhead for per game averages.
We need to stop devaluing superlatives to add fluff to a piece/post.
Between 21 and 22 seasons combined hes averaging 1500 yards rushing and recieving and was their number 1 target receptions wise. He is their best running back and reciever. 100 receptions at the running back position? Sounds dynamic
Yep, a boat load of dink and dunk short passes where his team won a wild 9 and 10 wins respectively and was good for 1 whole playoff game in which AE had a total of under 50 yards from scrimmage.
The guy is great for fantasy but hardly moves the needle otherwise. If that is your definition of dynamic that is fine, I just think that’s an oversell and reserve terms like that for truly the best.
Hasn’t gotten much acclaim because UDFA out of a small Colorado college.
I’d take Ekeler over 29 other starting RBs.