The Washington Commanders have fielded one of the best rushing offenses this season, thanks in part to their tremendous backfield depth. However, one of those running backs — Austin Ekeler — is out for an extended period of time after going down in Week 12 vs. the Dallas Cowboys.
What’s the latest on Ekeler and his potential return to play?
What Is Austin Ekeler’s Injury?
In Week 12, Ekeler suffered his second concussion of the season in the Commanders’ loss to the Cowboys. He took a major hit while returning a kick and was subsequently knocked out of the game.
Ekeler’s first concussion came back in Week 3. He departed after just 13 snaps in Washington’s Monday night win over the Cincinnati Bengals. On a short week, he was unable to clear concussion protocol for the Commanders’ Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals, but he returned after that one-game absence.
However, with this being his second concussion of the year, it’s unsurprising to see the team exercise more caution and force Ekeler to sit out an extended period.
When Will Ekeler Return From Injury?
Every concussion is different, and return-to-play timelines are trickier after multiple head injuries over a short period of time. Washington placed Ekeler on injured reserve (IR) the day before its Week 13 game, guaranteeing a four-game absence.
The Commanders also had a Week 14 bye, which extends Ekeler’s absence an extra week. That means the earliest we could see him again is in Washington’s Week 18 regular-season finale against the Cowboys.
During the bye week, Ekeler noted that he was suffering from memory loss and neck pain after his injury. Given the severity of the symptoms, it would seem unlikely that he could return in the minimum period required. The prudent course of action could be to hold him out until 2025 to allow more complete healing.
The good news is that he appears to be in a better state approaching the end of the regular season. Ekeler was seen warming up with the team in a sweatshirt and shorts at practice prior to Week 15. That’s a very long ways off from actually returning to play, of course, but it indicates that he’s feeling well enough to undertake some limited physical activity.
How Will Ekeler’s Absence Impact the Commanders?
At full strength, the Commanders had a strong 1-2 punch with Brian Robinson Jr. and Ekeler. With Ekeler out, veteran journeyman Jeremy McNichols slid into the RB2 role. While McNichols seems unlikely to see as much work as Ekeler, he will operate as the primary passing-down back.
In two games with Ekeler out, Robinson has played 58.9% of the snaps while taking 37 of the team’s 59 running back carries. For perspective, Robinson played 44.5% of the snaps in games where he and Ekeler were both active.
Robinson’s expected workload is probably even higher than that already elevated figure. The first game without Ekeler was a 42-19 blowout over the Tennessee Titans in which Robinson played fewer than half the snaps. In a competitive one-score win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 15, Robinson played 73% of the snaps.
From a fantasy perspective, McNichols is likely nothing more than an RB3 desperation play with Robinson in the lineup. But, Robinson has missed three games while dealing with his share of ailments this season, so fantasy football managers should ensure they roster the proper handcuff for the fantasy playoffs.
