Achilles injuries have sidelined many NFL players over the years, and this time it was Washington Commanders RB Austin Ekeler who went down with a season-ending one. He was placed on IR after playing just two games this season.
Austin Ekeler Injury Update
Ekeler got off to a slow start this season, but he still had plenty left in the tank. In his ninth NFL season, he hoped to show he could build on a relatively quiet first year with the Commanders. After spending his first seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, Ekeler averaged 4.8 yards per carry last year, his best mark since 2018.
He finished the 2024 campaign with 77 carries for 367 yards across 12 games. Injuries once again caught up to him, as he has played all 17 games only once in his career. The 2025 season will ultimately be remembered as the quietest of his career, with just 14 carries for 43 yards in two appearances.
MORE: 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft
Thursday Night Football in Week 2 saw Ekeler carted off the field in the fourth quarter of the Commanders’ game against the Packers. Washington’s offense looked rather lifeless, so the last thing they needed was to lose a key veteran player.
With injuries to players like Ekeler, Jayden Daniels, and Terry McLaurin, the Commanders have a record of 3-7 heading into Week 13.
Marcus Mariota will be the Commanders’ quarterback in Daniels’ absence, and based on PFSN’s QB Impact metric, he is the 16th-ranked quarterback in the league this season.
Washington Commanders’ Insights for Week 13
Team: Washington is 0-3 in November. The Commanders have not had a winless November since 2014 and only six total since 1960.
QB: Marcus Mariota has graded in the weekly top ten in QBi three times in six qualified games. His best was an 81.2 (B-) against the Raiders in Week 3. Mariota’s season rank is 16th out of 40 qualified quarterbacks.
Offense: The Commanaders have averaged 17.0 points per game during their six-game losing streak.
Defense: Washington registered a 76.2 (C) in DEFi against the Dolphins in Week 11. It snapped a streak of two straight games with an F grade.
Fantasy: Since Week 7, Troy Franklin has four games with at least 12.9 fantasy points. Courtland Sutton has one game with over 10.7 fantasy points. Franklin has out-targeted Sutton 45-34 over that timeframe.