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.
In Other News...
Commanders Got Pulled Into Jason Kelces Latest On-Air Awkward Moment
Jason Kelce found himself in another clumsy on-air moment during the NFL International Series game between the Commanders and the Colts, when he slipped and used Washingtons former team name. Dave Pasch quickly corrected him on the broadcast, keeping the moment from lingering too long, but it was the kind of live-TV stumble that instantly stands out when the whole audience catches it in real time.
Kelce has already had a few of these awkward broadcast miscues lately, including a separate slip on Monday Night Football when he referred to the Eagles as "we." For Washington fans, it was another reminder that even in a game with an overseas spotlight, the conversation can drift away from the action on the field and into the broadcast booth. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders London Game Suddenly Feels Very Different Before Colts Matchup
The Commanders trip to London just picked up a different kind of weight. What was already an unusual early kickoff against the Colts on Oct. 4 now has a new quarterback storyline attached to it, with Jayden Daniels sidelined and Marcus Mariota set to make the start. Washington is also carrying a mixed injury picture into the game, with Sam Cosmi and Nick Cross ruled out while Frankie Luvu and Chig Okonkwo are back in the fold.
For a team trying to keep its footing on an international stage, the ripple effects are hard to ignore. A morning kickoff alone can alter the feel of a game, but losing Daniels changes the way Washington will have to approach everything from protection to tempo against Indianapolis, even as a few injured pieces return to help stabilize the roster. The matchup still has plenty of intrigue, but it now looks like a very different kind of test for the Commanders. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Now Face A Brutal Problem Heading Into Division Games
The Commanders left London not just with a loss to the Colts, but with a deeper sense of urgency heading into the division stretch. Playing with third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis after injuries sidelined Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, Washington was already operating under difficult conditions before Indianapolis pulled away for a 30-13 win. Jonathan Taylor powered the Colts with two rushing touchdowns, and Daniel Jones added another on the ground even while his passing day never quite got going.
For Washington, the bigger concern is how thin the offense looked by the end of the trip. Wide receiver Jaylin Lane also exited with an ankle injury, adding another health issue to a unit that is suddenly scrambling for answers. With division games up next, the Commanders are facing a stretch where every missing piece matters, and the margin for error already looks painfully small. [Read more 🡒]