Commanders Suffer Major Blow as Austin Ekeler Ruled Out for Season with Torn Achilles

Austin Ekeler's second year in Washington ended after he suffered an Achilles tear during week two fixture against the Green Bay Packers.

Commanders Suffer Major Blow as Austin Ekeler Ruled Out for Season with Torn Achilles

Austin Ekeler (Image via IMAGO)

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Austin Ekeler’s second season with the Washington Commanders ended prematurely on Thursday. The ninth-year veteran reportedly suffered an Achilles tear, keeping him out of football for the remainder of the campaign.

Ekeler’s unfortunate end took place when the Commanders faced the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in week 2. Cameras caught him lying down on the ground, holding his right leg in pain.

When the broadcaster checked the reason behind Ekeler’s discomfort, they saw the 30-year-old going down with a non-contact injury.

The medical team rushed to aid Ekeler. They helped him to stand up, but he sat back down after being unable to withstand the pain. He had to be carted away.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that Ekeler was in no shape to play. Before succumbing to the injury, Ekeler had 8 carries for 17 yards. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt replaced him, but the Packers came out on top as 18-27 victors.

Ekeler underwent an MRI that confirmed an Achilles tear in his right foot.

An Achilles tear ended Austin Ekeler’s season

Ekeler is among the better pass-catching running backs in the league. He had 77 rushes on the ground for 367 yards and 4 touchdowns while receiving 35 passes for 366 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns last year.

Commanders Suffer Major Blow as Austin Ekeler Ruled Out for Season with Torn Achilles
Austin Ekeler (Image via IMAGO)

The Commanders expected him to improve on his number in 2025. They traded away RB2, Brian Robinson Jr., to give Ekeler more touches with the ball. However, the Achilles tear will keep him out of action for at least seven months.

With Ekeler out of the picture, the Commanders elevated Croskey-Merritt to RB1 and Jeremy McNichols as his backup. Croskey-Merritt generated ample hype with resounding preseason performances after getting drafted in the seventh round.

In other news, quarterback Jayden Daniels survived a big injury scare. He nearly missed the Packers game due to a wrist injury, but was given clearance in the very last moment.

The Commanders’ fans feared the worst for the final four minutes after a Packers defender flattened Daniels to the ground. On Friday, Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan reported that the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year underwent an MRI on his knee. The results haven’t been made public just yet.

In the meantime, the Commanders are busy preparing for a massive week three clash against the Las Vegas Raiders. This will be their first meeting since the Commanders bagged a 17-15 win in 2021. In fact, the franchise from the nation’s capital is currently on a four-game winning streak against the AFC West franchise.

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