Austin Ekeler Open To Continuing Career

In a recent appearance on the Fantasy Football Happy Hour podcast, Ekeler told host Matt Berry (via Serena Burks of Commanders Wire): “For me, I gotta look for the right situation. I’m coming off an Achilles tear; I’m fully healthy and back in the weight room pushing a ton of weight like usual, so that’s my safe place.”

Ekeler admitted he is “more of a support role guy” at this stage. The nine-year veteran also acknowledged another opportunity may not come along.

Ekeler spent the previous two seasons in Washington, but he is better known for an excellent run with the Chargers from 2017-23. The Western Colorado product improbably rose from undrafted free agent to dual-threat weapon in Los Angeles.

Teaming with Philip Rivers and then Justin Herbert, Ekeler exceeded 1,400 yards from scrimmage three times, caught 70-plus passes on three occasions and scored 15-plus touchdowns twice with L.A. He piled up 20 total TDs in 2021, but ’22 ranks as his most prolific season in terms of total yards (1,637; 915 rushing, 722 receiving) and receptions (107). The 5-foot-10, 210-pounder chipped in 18 more scores that year.

Although Ekeler ranks third in Chargers history in rushing yards (4,355), fourth in TDs (69) and fifth in catches (440), he never made a Pro Bowl or earned All-Pro honors in their uniform. It took until Ekeler went to Washington in 2024 to pick up a second-team All-Pro nod, though he achieved the feat as a kick returner. Ekeler missed five games with a concussion that year, and his Achilles tear kept him out of 15 more last season.

Ekeler’s recent injury troubles limited him to just 14 of 32 games during his two-year, $8.43MM contract with the Commanders. He will come at a much cheaper cost if he signs another deal, though it is possible we have seen the last of the former fantasy football superstar in the NFL.