Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Still has concussion symptoms
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Ekeler said Tuesday that he's still dealing with concussion symptoms and neck pain, and he remains in the league's concussion protocol, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Ekeler said he doesn't remember walking off the field Nov. 24 against the Cowboys, or indeed anything until he got in the ambulance to go to the hospital. The veteran running back also states he had memory loss following his Week 3 concussion earlier in the season. All of these symptoms led to Ekeler's placement on injured reserve ahead of Week 13, sidelining him until at least Week 18. Brian Robinson, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez are set to handle backfield duties while Ekeler is out.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Goes on IR
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Ekeler (concussion) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.
This wasn't that surprising given Ekeler's history of concussions over his career, with the Week 12 concussion accounting for his second of the 2024 campaign. The veteran running back won't be eligible to return until Week 18, effectively ending his fantasy season. Jeremy McNichols figures to step in immediately as the pass-catching running back and has done well in that role in replacement of Ekeler, tallying nine touches for 74 yards and two touchdowns back in Week 4 against the Cardinals.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Not ready to practice
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Ekeler (concussion) won't practice Wednesday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that Ekeler remains in concussion protocol after he suffered a brain injury on a hard tackle during a kickoff return in the final minute of Sunday's 34-26 loss to the Cowboys. While he'll still have two more chances this week to potentially take part in practice, Ekeler doesn't appear to be trending toward playing this Sunday against the Titans. An Ekeler absence this weekend would open more snaps for back running backs Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez, who could see their roles grow even larger if lead back Brian Robinson (ankle) is also sidelined against the Titans.
Ekeler sustained a concussion during Sunday's 34-26 loss to the Cowboys, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Per Jhabvala, head coach Dan Quinn added that Ekeler -- who was injured on a kickoff return late in the contest -- will undergo further testing out of an abundance of caution. In addition to Ekeler sustaining a concussion Sunday, fellow running back Brian Robinson left the game with an ankle injury in the first half, returned and then left again. The status of both backs will thus be worth monitoring as next weekend's home tilt versus the Titans approaches.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Sleeper RBs
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Brian Robinson Jr. is my Start of the Week, but I also like Ekeler as a flex option in all leagues. He comes into Week 12 having scored at least 17.3 PPR points in three games in a row, and he has eight games this season with at least 10.2 PPR points. In Week 11 at Philadelphia, Ekeler made a huge impact in the passing game with eight catches for 89 yards on nine targets, and he should be a nice complement to Robinson in this matchup.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Returning to backup role
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Ekeler likely will return to a backup role with Brian Robinson (hamstring) cleared to play Thursday at Philadelphia, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Ekeler's workload was perhaps disappointing during Robinson's two-game absence -- he received 14 touches in both contests -- but a trio of one-yard touchdowns made him a useful lineup option for fantasy managers. With Robinson back in action, Ekeler is unlikely to continue his goal-line touchdown binge but should take most of the snaps in passing situations while also subbing in for some carries.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Scores twice
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Ekeler rushed the ball 13 times for 44 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 28-27 loss to the Steelers. He added one reception on two targets for seven yards.
Ekeler drew his second straight start due to Brian Robinson (hamstring) sidelined. Only one of his rush attempts went for double-digit yardage, though he made hay with a pair of one-yard touchdown runs. Ekeler was curiously uninvolved as a pass catcher, though that part of his game could return if Robinson can re-take the field in Week 11 against the Eagles, in turn pushing Ekeler back into a complementary role.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Another start likely Sunday
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Ekeler may be in line to lead the Commanders backfield Sunday against the Steelers due to Brian Robinson (hamstring) being ruled out for the contest, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.
With Robinson sidelined Week 9 at the Giants, Ekeler started and paced Washington running backs with 47 percent of the snaps, while Jeremy McNichols took 39 percent and Chris Rodriguez handled 32 percent. The breakdown of touches was a different story, at least for the reserves. Ekeler earned 11 touches (for 83 yards from scrimmage and a rushing TD) to Rodriguez's 11 (all carries for 52 yards) and McNichols' eight (all rushes for 20 yards). Rodriguez has been elevated three times this season, so he'll need to be signed to the active roster Saturday in order to vie with Ekeler and McNichols for work Sunday.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: In line for start with Robinson out
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Ekeler is expected to be the Commanders' primary running back Sunday at the Giants due to Brian Robinson (hamstring) being inactive.
Robinson's practice reps were capped this week due to a hamstring injury, and after a pregame warmup didn't yield the desired results for game day, Washington opted to keep him on the sideline. The situation opens the door for Ekeler to lead the backfield for the second time this season, but in the other such outing (Week 6 at Baltimore), he tallied 68 yards from scrimmage on 13 touches. Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez also will be on hand for snaps behind Ekeler.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Totals 58 yards
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Ekeler rushed the ball seven times for 52 yards in Sunday's 18-15 win over the Bears. He added two receptions on three targets for six yards.
Ekeler continued to serve as the change-of-pace back in Washington, seeing half the carries of Brian Robinson. His stat line oversells his production considerably, as he tallied a 29-yard rush on a meaningless play just before halftime. He was also oddly quiet as a pass catcher, and he's now been held to single-digit receiving yards in consecutive games.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Limited due to game script
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Ekeler rushed the ball four times for 17 yards in Sunday's 40-7 win over the Panthers. He added two receptions on two targets for three yards.
Ekeler returned to his typical role as the change-of-pace back behind Brian Robinson, though game script dictated that he was sidelined for the final 19 minutes of the contest. Washington maintained a significant lead throughout the game, also limiting its pass attempts and cutting into Ekeler's primary way to contribute to the offense. The Commanders will face a much more difficult task in Week 8 against the Bears, so Ekeler should be asked to make more of an impact.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Can't get going on ground Sunday
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Ekeler carried the ball nine times for 21 yards and caught four of five targets for 47 yards in Sunday's 30-23 loss to the Ravens.
Baltimore's run defense didn't allow a run of 10 or more yards all game, and Jayden Daniels wound up leading Washington in rushing yards with a mere 22. Ekeler still salvaged some fantasy value through the air, and he's hauled in multiple passes in all five of his games to begin the season, with Sunday's five targets being a season high. If Brian Robinson (knee) isn't able to return in Week 7, Ekeler could be a lot busier next week against the Panthers.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Sleeper RBs
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Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) is considered a game-time decision for Week 6 at Baltimore, and if he's out, then Ekeler is worth using as a No. 2 running back, with Jeremy McNichols as a flex. This is a tough matchup against the Ravens, who are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. But Ekeler and McNichols would get a boost in touches if Robinson can't play, and both have done well this season in secondary roles. Ekeler has scored at least 11.5 PPR points in three games in a row, and he had 97 total yards in Week 5 against Cleveland. And McNichols has three touchdowns in his past two games, including 15 carries for 112 yards over that span. McNichols will likely need to score to help your Fantasy roster, but this could be Ekeler's best game of the season if Robinson is out.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Gets back to full practice Thursday
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Ekeler (heel) practiced in full Thursday.
Ekeler followed up Wednesday's capped session with all activity one day later, indicating his heel issue isn't too much of a concern. At the same time, fellow RB Brian Robinson has yet to practice this week due to a lingering knee injury. Robinson was able to suit up this past Sunday versus the Browns, but snaps and touches were spread among him, Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols. A similar breakdown of reps between the trio is likely to occur Sunday in Baltimore if Robinson again is active.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Limited Wednesday
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Ekeler practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday due to a heel injury.
Ekeler was productive in his return from a one-game absence this past Sunday against the Browns, turning eight touches into 97 yards from scrimmage while pacing Commanders running backs with a 49 percent snap share. Meanwhile, Brian Robinson ranked second in playing time among running backs due to a lingering knee injury, finishing with seven carries for 18 yards and two touchdowns. Robinson didn't practice Wednesday, but if he's able to increase his activity Thursday and/or Friday or if Ekeler remains slowed by the heel issue, Robinson could recapture a larger share of the snaps this Sunday in Baltimore.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Gets back to full practice Thursday
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Ekeler (concussion) practiced in full Thursday.
Ekeler returned to drills this week for the first time since he sustained a concussion Week 3, and he increased his activity level from limited Wednesday to all activity Thursday. Per John Keim of ESPN.com, Ekeler even was spotted without a yellow non-contact jersey Thursday, signaling that he's been cleared for contact. Still, Ekeler must gain clearance from an independent neurologist in order to suit up Sunday in Seattle. Because Brian Robinson (knee) hasn't practiced this week, there's a chance Ekeler will take on a significant role this weekend, assuming he's active and the former is inhibited or sits out.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Limited in return to practice
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Ekeler (concussion) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday.
Ekeler left midway through the Commanders' Week 3 win at Cincinnati due to a concussion, and he was unable to practice at all last week before he missed this past Sunday's contest at Arizona. Head coach Dan Quinn told John Keim of ESPN.com earlier Wednesday that the "arrows are pointing up" for Ekeler, and his return to practice, even in a capped fashion, has set him on a path to suiting up again. In the end, though, Ekeler must gain clearance from an independent neurologist in order to be able to play Sunday against the Browns.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Tracking toward playing
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Ekeler (concussion) expects to play Week 5 versus the Browns, Grant Paulsen of The Athletic reports.
Ekeler was unavailable for the team's Week 4 win over the Cardinals due to a concussion, and the running back is still working his way through league protocols. Ekeler said Tuesday that he is "feeling more like himself," and his status on the team's injury report throughout the week will be worth monitoring.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Out Week 4 with concussion
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Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday that Ekeler (concussion) won't be available for Sunday's game at Arizona, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports.
Ekeler was removed from Monday's win at Cincinnati due to a concussion, and Quinn revealed Tuesday that the running back also was dealing with a laceration to his ear, per Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site. With his lack of availability already confirmed for Week 4, Ekeler's next chance to suit up will come Oct. 6 against the Browns. In Ekeler's absence, Brian Robinson likely stands to handle a greater share of Washington's backfield, while Jeremy McNichols and practice-squad members Chris Rodriguez and Michael Wiley will be candidates to fill in behind Robinson.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Out with concussion
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Ekeler will not return to Monday's matchup with the Bengals after sustaining a concussion, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Ekeler took a handoff in the red zone during the third quarter of Monday's contest and subsequently exited the game. He had tallied 57 total yards and one touchdown prior to sustaining the injury. He will need to clear the league's concussion protocol at some point during the week in order to avoid a Week 4 absence in Arizona.
