Austin Ekeler injury update: Commanders receive grim news on RB after being carter to locker room

A sight nobody inside Lambeau Field wanted to see, Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler went down with a non-contact injury late in the game. Ekeler instantly grabbed the lower portion of his leg and speculation began. Soon after, the Commanders confirmed the fear — Ekeler suffered an Achilles injury.

“As you would expect, after seeing Commanders running back Austin Ekeler carted off the field with that non-contact injury, the Commanders say he is ruled out for this game with an Achilles injury,” Amazon sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung said during the broadcast.

Ekeler was not involved in the play when getting hurt. Initially running into the flat on a Commanders pass play, he turned upfield once Jayden Daniels released the ball. That’s where the injury must have occurred, as Ekeler instantly fell down. While he did get back on his feet, there was no doubt about what just happened.

In eight carries tonight, Ekeler finished with just 17 yards. Washington, as a whole, struggled to run the ball as the Green Bay Packers’ defense held them to 51 total yards on 19 attempts. Daniels is usually one of the NFL’s biggest dual-threat quarterbacks but not even he could find running lanes.

Flipping over to the passing game, Ekeler made a slight impact. Two catches for seven yards with a long of four.

“You love having some versatility with the group, and I think it’s no big secret what Austin can provide in space and getting the ball in that way,” head coach Dan Quinn said. “That’s one of his superpowers. So as we’re growing that, I think it’ll take some time to get into that space, and who’s excellent in what space is, and how do we do that.”

Hopefully, Quinn has more news when he steps up to the postgame podium. One step further, the message being a positive one would be a pleasant surprise. More often than not, with Achilles injuries, the player winds up missing the entire season and then some.

Washington now gets a mini-bye after playing on Thursday Night Football. Sept. 21 will be their next time out on the field, hosting the Las Vegas Raiders. From there, two straight road games fall on the schedule, making it three of the first five. Some changes might be coming at running back, needing to find a suitable replacement for Ekeler if he spends all of 2025 on the sideline.