The Washington Commanders saw their season end in devastating fashion with a 55-23 blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. With their season over, the team now begins their offseason planning.
A key part of that process will involve reshaping a roster that outperformed expectations, potentially leading to significant changes in Washington for the 2025 season.
Among the high-profile players who could be released as salary cap casualties, NFL All-Pro running back and return specialist Austin Ekeler has been highlighted by Bleacher Report.
From Bleacher Report:
“The Commanders mostly used Ekeler as a receiving back. Brian Robinson Jr. and Jayden Daniels handled most of the carries. Ekeler turned his 41 targets into 35 catches for 366 yards, but Washington could likely get similar production at a lower cost while saving approximately $3.5 million in cap space.”
Ekeler joined the Commanders in March 2024 on a two-year, $8.34 million deal, but lingering injury concerns are a factor. He missed five games in 2024 due to two separate concussions, raising questions about his durability moving forward.
In Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys, Ekeler suffered a concussion so severe it sidelined him for the next four games.
“I didn’t even remember how I got off the field,” Ekeler shared during a radio interview after the incident. “I had short-term memory loss. I remember my wife being in the room while I was being evaluated by the medical staff. The next thing I know, we’re in the back of an ambulance heading for a CT scan. I was definitely concussed and dealing with some major symptoms.”
Ekeler’s Prolific Past Includes Back-to-Back Touchdown Titles
Ekeler began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent out of NCAA Division II Western Colorado, spending seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. During his time with the Chargers, he led the NFL in touchdowns in both 2021 and 2022.
In March 2020, he signed a four-year, $24.5 million extension with Los Angeles and delivered a career year in 2022, amassing 1,637 total yards and 18 touchdowns. He finished ninth in voting for NFL Offensive Player of the Year that season.
Despite missing time in 2024, Ekeler still posted 1,305 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in 12 games while contributing on punt and kick returns. However, his tenure with the Commanders may be best remembered for a costly moment in the NFC Championship Game, where his fumble was one of four turnovers that led to Eagles touchdowns.
Commanders Eyeing Draft Options at Running Back
While the Commanders are unlikely to target a running back in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting one in the later rounds could be a prudent move.
Historically, Washington has avoided drafting running backs in the first round. The last time they did so was in 1967, selecting Ray McDonald out of the University of Idaho with the 13th overall pick.
With Ekeler’s future uncertain, the Commanders could turn to the draft to find a younger, more affordable option to bolster their backfield.
