The Washington Commanders are moving to bring back Austin Ekeler, a familiar name at a time when their rushing attack has come up short.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the team is set to reunite with Ekeler, pending a successful physical. It’s a notable turn, but not a surprising one for a player who earned plenty of respect inside the locker room during his first two seasons in Washington.
Ekeler arrived before the 2024 season and quickly became a trusted pass-catching option out of the backfield. In 2025, he stepped into the lead-back role, but that run lasted only two games before a torn Achilles tendon against the Green Bay Packers ended his season.
Washington did not bring him back when his contract expired, but the slow start on the ground has changed the picture. Now general manager Adam Peters appears ready to lean on the veteran again, hoping Ekeler can help stabilize an underperforming area.
There is still a process to clear before anything becomes official. Ekeler has been working to get himself back into playing shape, and the summer brought the key green light: he was cleared to resume football activities. That was the major hurdle.
Interest had started to build around him, too. The Carolina Panthers worked him out last week, though they did not sign him.
If his medical checks go as expected, the Commanders should get their reunion.
There will likely be a short ramp-up period. Ekeler will need to get comfortable in offensive coordinator David Blough’s system, though he already has a built-in advantage after working with Blough last season.
And if Washington’s current backs don’t pick things up, Ekeler could quickly become part of the solution. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is among the players who may feel that pressure most directly.
Even with more than a year away from game action, Ekeler still brings a track record of production in the regular season. He should also be relatively fresh after the long layoff, which matters for a running back at this stage of his career.
The Commanders spent the offseason moving away from aging veterans, and that decision made sense. This move is different. Peters is reaching back to a player who already knows the franchise, already fits the culture Dan Quinn wants, and already proved he can help.
For Washington, it’s a practical answer to a problem area. For Ekeler, it’s a chance to make up for lost time.
In Other News...
Commanders Shocked Seattle But One Problem Still Wont Go Away
The Commanders got the kind of home-opening jolt they needed against Seattle, even after losing Jayden Daniels to a dislocated elbow. Marcus Mariota stepped in at quarterback, and Washington played with better urgency from the start, while the defense set the tone early and helped turn an unexpected afternoon into a much-needed win.
Mike Sainristil's limited playing time remained a notable concern, but the bigger issue may be one Washington keeps carrying with it from week to week. The improved energy was real, yet the pre-snap discipline problems still showed up enough to keep the performance from feeling fully clean, and that is the sort of thing that can linger even after a result like this. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Head To London With Jonathan Taylor Facing A Familiar Problem
The Commanders head into London with both teams sitting at 1-2 after each finally got into the win column in Week 3. It is a tidy early-season reset for a matchup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Washington will get a chance to measure itself against an Indianapolis team that has shown enough to keep this one from feeling like a throwaway overseas trip.
For Washington, the bigger draw is the betting angle around a game that should be shaped by how these two teams have looked through three weeks and by the way key players have performed so far. Indianapolis arrives with Jonathan Taylor carrying a familiar concern into the matchup, which only adds another layer to a game that already feels like a useful early read on where both clubs stand. [Read more 🡒]
Austin Ekeler Puts Washington's Backfield Reliability Under The Spotlight
Austin Ekeler is back on the Commanders radar as Washington moves toward adding the veteran running back to its 53-man roster, pending a physical. Ekeler previously played for the team in 2024 and is still working his way back from an Achilles injury, but the interest underscores how much the Commanders value a reliable, experienced presence in the backfield as they sort through their options.
For Washington, the appeal is less about splash and more about stability. Ekeler has long been viewed as a useful complement to younger runners, especially in passing situations where his experience and versatility can help settle things down. If the physical checks out, the Commanders would be adding a familiar piece at a position where trust and availability matter just as much as upside. [Read more 🡒]