Chargers News: LA Looking To Upgrade RB Talent Amidst Austin Ekeler Affair

With or without Ekeler, LA still needs running back depth

Your Los Angeles Chargers will be looking to bounce back in 2023. In a rugged AFC West, they'll look to dethrone the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and crown themselves kings of the West. However, they might have to accomplish that without their star running back, Austin Ekeler. 

Ekeler requested a trade from LA earlier this month, and there is a possibility he is no longer donning the powder blue. So, that leaves LA with many question marks in their backfield. Regardless, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley believes they still need to upgrade their running back position whether Ekeler is on the team or not. Statley caught up with Chargers insider Daniel Popper and had this to say. 

“Where Austin’s at in his career and based on our running back situation, we’re always going to look to upgrade a position group,” Staley said. “We know who we have in Austin Ekeler, who is a Pro Bowl-caliber player, a difference maker, and so I think it would just be to complement our football team through the draft process or other acquisitions.”

Staley went on to say that he'd love to keep Ekeler in LA. 

“We don’t have a timeline on what’s going to happen, but we want him to be a Charger.”

An elite back like Ekeler combining him with a brilliant offensive mind like new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore would be something to watch. Nonetheless, Staley is right. Even if he stays in LA, Austin is 27 years old, and the window for backs is limited. He's previously dealt with injuries, and you could never go wrong with backfield depth. 

Ekeler's backups, Joshua Kelly, Isaiah Spiller, and Larry Rountree, provided little in 2022. They combined for 100 attempts, 347 yards, and two touchdowns between the three. LA needs another back, and the draft route would be the best one to take. Spiller didn't impress in his first season; maybe another rookie could do the job. 

The Chargers have plenty of time and could hang on to Ekeler if they choose to. We'll see how the front office approaches this situation.