Austin Ekeler suffered a concussion during the Washington Commanders’ Week 12 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He had also suffered another concussion in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals and missed the following game.
The Commanders have placed Ekeler on injured reserve (IR), and the veteran running back is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Details on Austin Ekeler’s Condition After Multiple Concussions
Ekeler recently provided a scary update about his concussions during his weekly appearance on the “106.7 the Fan” radio show. Per The Athletic’s Ben Standig, the 29-year-old running back suffered memory loss after the hit he took on a kickoff return against the Cowboys.
Ekeler revealed he doesn’t remember walking off the field and getting to the ambulance. A similar thing happened to him after his concussion against the Bengals earlier this season.
Austin Ekeler –
Had suffered a concussion earlier this season. Appears to have suffered another one late today.
Thankfully he is sitting up, but expect him to enter concussion protocol with risk of missing Wk13+
pic.twitter.com/sDNWjWMuTE— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) November 24, 2024
Moreover, Ekeler is also experiencing neck pain, which is among the reasons why he was put on the IR. The team is prioritizing his health, and given his age, 29, the eight-year NFL veteran should take time off before returning to play.
He should be ready to play at the end of the regular season, and if the Commanders make the playoffs, Ekeler will be fresh and ready to make an impact. Washington is currently 8-5 on the season and has the last Wild Card spot in the NFC.
The NFC East team snapped its three-game losing streak with a 42-19 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 13. The Commanders have a bye this week and will face the New Orleans Saints in Week 15 to continue their bid to make the postseason with a rookie quarterback.
Ekeler Has Had a Resurgence With the Commanders
Ekeler signed a two-year $8.43 million contract with Washington this offseason. He was coming off the worst season of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers, but the Commanders took a shot on him, and the running back has had a great season.
In 11 games, he has rushed for 355 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, his best since the 2018 NFL season. He has also added 346 yards through the air on 33 catches. Ekeler has been a big contributor to the Commanders’ offense, and playing behind Brian Robinson Jr. has decreased his snap count but improved his production.
The Commanders have the third-most productive running game in the league, averaging 156.9 rushing yards per game. Jayden Daniels has had a great rookie year, and due to his excellence, players like Ekeler and Terry McLaurin have also thrived.
Hopefully, Ekeler will be ready for the playoffs, as his experience could be useful for the young Commanders team. This season is a step in the right direction for Washington, and they have to be aggressive in the next offseason to build a Super Bowl-contending roster.