Commanders quietly land Austin Ekeler replacement nobody expected

Adam Peters is a cutthroat roster builder. He strikes with conviction when opportunities arise, and always has a contingency plan in place for every eventuality. This approach was once again evident as the Washington Commanders looked to fill the gaping void left by veteran running back Austin Ekeler.

Ekeler went down with a problem in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, and the concern was immediate. The former Western Colorado standout, who was the team's lead back after Peters traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers, tore his Achilles. He will now miss the rest of 2025, and his time in Washington is likely done.

This is not an emotionally charged business. It's always next man up. One player's disappointment is another player's opportunity. And as expected, Peters moved swiftly to get another capable body into the fold.

Commanders signed Chase Edmonds after cruel Austin Ekeler injury blow

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Commanders signed Chase Edmonds to their practice squad. The 2018 fourth-round pick missed the entire 2024 campaign through injury, but he's healthy now, and Washington wants to get a closer look at how much he potentially has left in the tank.

This is nothing more than an insurance policy initially. The Commanders are reportedly moving forward with seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt as their No. 1 option. Jeremy McNichols provides the experienced presence. Chris Rodriguez Jr. could also get work as a physical body capable of gaining the hard yards in between the tackles.

On his best day, Edmonds is a dynamic dual-threat force. His 5-foot-9 frame can exploit small gaps for big gains. He's also got the short-area awareness in space that makes him a dangerous route-runner out of the backfield.

It's been a long time since Edmonds was productive. He looked like a player of immense promise when accumulating 903 all-purpose yards (rushing and receiving) with two touchdowns for the Arizona Cardinals in 2021. It's been a steady decline riddled with health issues after that, but it's not costing the Commanders much to find out for sure.

Edmonds is an intriguing pickup. He'll probably get a couple of weeks to settle in, but his previous connection to Kliff Kingsbury from their time together in Arizona should smooth the transition. If everything goes well, and others don't quite meet their end of the bargain, that's when he'll be introduced into the fold.

It's another fascinating dynamic to watch closely. It's also a chance that Edmonds probably didn't think would arrive.

Maximizing it is crucial.