Austin Ekeler’s return to the Washington Commanders has suddenly taken on a much bigger role.
What looked like a feel-good reunion for a player many figured was finished in the NFL now comes with immediate need attached to it. With Rachaad White ruled out for Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts, Ekeler is set to be leaned on right away when Washington plays at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Ekeler, now 31, tore his Achilles tendon in Week 2 of last season against the Green Bay Packers and remained unsigned through the offseason. Even so, there was still a path back for a pass-catching back in the right spot, and head coach Dan Quinn clearly sees value in what he can still bring as depth.
The Commanders need help in the backfield, and they need it now. White is dealing with a shoulder injury, and with him unavailable, Washington will continue to turn to Jacory Croskey-Merritt and maybe Kaytron Allen as runners. But Ekeler is the one expected to absorb most of the duties White would have handled.
His best recent season came in 2024, his last healthy year, when he put up more than 700 yards of total offense and earned All-Pro honors as a kick returner. The burst and wiggle that once made him such a tough cover may not be quite the same, but he still brings dependable hands and enough savvy to pick up useful yards when the offense needs them.
That matters for a Washington backfield that hasn’t done much through three games. The Commanders are averaging 94 rushing yards and 19 receiving yards per game from their running backs, and while offensive coordinator David Blough has done a decent job spreading the work around, the group could use more production, especially in the passing game.
That is where Ekeler fits in.
White was supposed to give Washington a dynamic dual-threat option, but through three games he has only 51 receiving yards on nine catches. He could still add more to that when he returns, but for now Blough may look to Ekeler to help jump-start that part of the offense.
Ekeler may not get more than a few touches in his first game in more than a calendar year, but the opportunity is there. The Colts have been one of the league’s weaker defenses so far, which gives Washington a chance to ease him back in while asking him to make the most of whatever work comes his way.
The Western Colorado product is not being brought in to carry the whole offense. The Commanders just need him to contribute enough to give the backfield a spark. We'll see what the veteran has left in the tank.
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Commanders Still Sent A Frustrating Backfield Message After Jacory Croskey-Merritts Breakout
Jacory Croskey-Merritt gave the Commanders a much-needed spark in Week 5 against the Giants, turning his touches into a productive afternoon and giving Washington another reminder that its backfield has some life in it. The rookie has been working to carve out a real role in the offense, and his performance only added to the case that he deserves a longer look as the season goes on.
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Paynes situation gives the front office real options, and not all of them point in the same direction. Washington can explore an extension and try to keep one of its most important veterans in place, but if the season keeps slipping away, moving a proven starter before the trade deadline would bring back draft capital and help reshape the roster for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Coaching Decision Could Split Fans For One Big Reason
The Commanders are already being pulled into an early coaching conversation, with Dan Quinns future looking uncertain enough to send the search cycle into motion. The speculation has centered on a range of offensive and defensive coordinators around the league, which is the sort of list that can quickly divide a fan base between those who want a proven leader and those who prefer an up-and-coming play caller with a fresh approach.
Adam Peters hand in the process only adds to the intrigue, because the final direction may say as much about the front offices vision as it does about Quinns season. For now, it remains a waiting game, with no official decision in place and plenty of room for the kind of late push that could alter the conversation, even if the path to changing it looks steep. [Read more 🡒]