Nothing went right for the Washington Commanders during a disappointing defeat to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. But for one established veteran, his career aspirations could be hanging in the balance after a devastating injury.
With the game out of sight in the fourth quarter, running back Austin Ekeler went down with a non-contact injury. He immediately felt his Achilles tendon, and there was significant concern among his teammates before he was helped off the field.
Obviously, there will be further developments upcoming. But if Ekeler has blown his Achilles, that would rule him out for the entire season, if not longer.
Commanders RB Austin Ekeler could have suffered a career-ending Achilles injury
Ekeler has suffered some troubling health issues in recent years. He was once considered among the league's most dynamic dual-threats, but the punishment of being an every-down workhorse with the Los Angeles Chargers has taken its toll.
Concussion issues blighted his first season in Washington. Now, it's another critical setback that could potentially spell the end of his glittering playing career.
The replays were gruesome to watch. It was a non-contact injury, which typically spells bad news. Although nothing has been confirmed for sure, it's not looking especially promising.
The Commanders were confident enough in their running back options to trade Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers. Ekeler led the charge despite the growing momentum around Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but this will force Washington into a change in approach. Fortunately, they have Chris Rodriguez Jr. waiting in the wings, who's been inactive for the opening two games but flashed enormous promise during the preseason.
If this is the worst news for Ekeler, who is also out of contract next spring, the veteran needs to seriously consider whether it's worth prolonging his career and risking his long-term health. There are too many aspects stacking up against him not to think about walking away from the game entirely, so it'll be interesting to see what comes next.
More Commanders news and analysis