Veteran NFL running back Austin Ekeler has signed a new contract with the Washington Commanders. Ekeler, a former undrafted free agent, has spent the entirety of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers.
REPORT: Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders, Agree to Contract
Austin Ekeler hits free agency on the heels of a season to forget. The running back spent a portion of the offseason holding out for a new contract. The Chargers eventually allowed him to look for a trade partner, but there were no takers, so Ekeler had to come back without any long-term security.
This proved to be an unfortunate development, as Austin Ekeler had his worst season since becoming a starter. Starting and appearing in 14 games, the running back finished the year with just 628 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 179 carries (3.5 yards per attempt). The good news is that Ekeler still made plays in the passing game, as he recorded 51 receptions for 436 yards and one touchdown on 74 targets.
Austin Ekeler originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent following the 2017 NFL Draft. Signed by the Los Angeles Chargers, the Western State product spent his first two years in the league as the primary backup to former first-round pick Melvin Gordon. While Ekeler proved that he could be a solid receiving back, he never received a heavy workload.
This all changed in 2019. With Melvin Gordon holding out for a contract of his own, Austin Ekeler stepped up and proved he can handle a three-down workload. During the final year of the Philip Rivers Era, Ekeler recorded 557 rushing yards and three touchdowns to go along with a staggering 993 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 92 receptions.
Austin Ekeler eventually got the contract that Melvin Gordon wanted and established himself as one of the most dangerous three-down threats in the game. Since entering the league, the former undrafted free agent has recorded 4,355 rushing yards, 3,884 receiving yards, and 69 combined touchdowns.
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