Washington Commanders Running Back Austin Ekeler Officially Out For 2025
The Washington Commanders’ season just took a brutal hit, and we’re only in Week 2. Running Back Austin Ekeler, the team’s prized offseason acquisition, is officially done for the year. An MRI confirmed what every fan, player, and coach feared after watching him go down on Thursday night: a torn Achilles. How will the team fare without him?
Context Surrounding Injury
It’s the kind of news that makes your stomach drop. One minute, Ekeler is making a routine cut on the Lambeau Field turf against the Green Bay Packers. Next, he’s on the ground, clutching his right leg in a non-contact injury that every football fan knows is the absolute worst-case scenario. The cart came out, and a collective groan could be heard from every Commanders fan watching.
Ekeler’s first season in Washington comes to a screeching halt. Just like that, his hopes of bouncing back and being a key weapon for this offense are over. You have to feel for the guy. At 30 years old, recovering from an Achilles tear is a monumental task.
What This Means For Ekeler
This is a devastating blow for Ekeler, plain and simple. He was looking to prove he still had plenty left in the tank after a “down year” in 2024. Now, he faces a long, arduous road to recovery. An Achilles tear is one of the most challenging injuries for a running back to overcome, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time, as he’ll be an unrestricted free agent in March. It’s a cruel twist of fate for one of the league’s most versatile and well-liked players.
What’s Next For the Commanders?
For the Commanders, it’s a “next man up” situation, but let’s be real—you don’t just replace a player like Ekeler. The backfield now looks to rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, and Chris Rodriguez to pick up the pieces. That’s a whole lot of pressure on a young group to fill some massive shoes. The loss to the Packers already stung, but losing Ekeler for the season? That’s a wound that will be felt for the rest of the year.
