Austin Ekeler made a name for himself with the LA Chargers for being one of the best touchdown scorers in the sport. Unfortunately, Ekeler's tenure with the Chargers did not end on good terms as he left the team in free agency after requesting a trade.
Ekeler signed a two-year deal with the Washington Commanders to reunite with former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn. Ekeler is in the second year of that deal, which unfortunately, might also serve as his last NFL contract after Thursday night.
The former undrafted free agent out of Western Colorado suffered a non-contact injury in the fourth quarter that looked eerily similar to injuries fans have seen in other sports. Ekeler planted, collapses, and instantly grabbed at his calf. He was helped off the field bearing no weight on the impacted leg.
Chargers fans fear the worst for Austin Ekeler after non-contact injury
It's unfair to diagnose Ekeler before any official word comes out, but the injury shared similar characteristics of Achilles tears that have happened before. It had all the tell-tale signs: non contact, the leg failing after planting, and the player grabbing for the calf.
The broadcast confirmed later in the game that Ekeler did indeed suffer an Achilles injury. The severity of the injury is unclear, with a tear being the worst-case scenario.
An Achilles injury would likely sideline Ekeler for at least a calendar year, meaning if that is the injury, he likely won't be healthy for the start of the 2026 season. While he definitely could play in 2026, it's unclear if he would garner any interest from NFL teams.
Running back is a young man's position and every year we see running backs get phased out sooner than anyone could have expected. Ekeler already had a challenging market ahead of him next spring. With the Achilles injury, there may not be a market at all.
This is unfortunate as despite his exit, Ekeler still goes down as one of the best Chargers in recent franchise history. Nobody was better at finding the endzone than Ekeler during his prime. He was an explosive dual-threat running back who legitimately is one of the best feel-good stories in Chargers history.
Hopefully, Ekeler averted disaster and can suit up for the Commanders once again. It likely won't happen when the Commanders come to Sofi Stadium to play the Chargers on October 5, though.