Commander Country

Commanders Could See Austin Ekeler Return Soon

Austin Ekeler could be back with the Washington Commanders for the playoffs.

Jeremy Brener

Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (30) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (30) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
In this story:

The Washington Commanders are inching closer to the playoffs and they are getting healthier for the time being.

The team announced that it has opened the 21-day window to activate backup running back Austin Ekeler.

Ekeler, 29, has been on injured reserve with a concussion that has kept him out of the lineup since Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys.

So far this season, Ekeler has ran the ball 74 times for 355 yards and four touchdowns while catching 33 passes for 346 yards. Those numbers aren't near his career-bests, but he has been effective for the Commanders in his first year with the team.

Getting him back for the postseason could be a massive boost for the Commanders running back room, which has suffered since losing him back on Nov. 24.

The Commanders are unlikely to bring Ekeler back for the team's Week 18 contest against the Dallas Cowboys to close out the regular season, but this opens the door for a potential comeback for a Washington postseason run.

Kickoff between the Commanders and Cowboys is set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.

More Washington Commanders News

• Best and Worst Graded Commanders Defensive Players vs. Falcons

• How Commanders Playoff Fate Could Be Impacted by Rams Coach Sean McVay

• Former Commanders Coach Ron Rivera Interviews For Jets Job

• Dan Quinn on Commanders QB Jayden Daniels: ‘You Can’t Put That on a Card’

Published
Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

Home/News