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Austin Ekeler Injury History & Updates

Basic StatsAustin Ekeler’s Basic Stats

Austin Ekeler
ADP: N/A
Bye: 14
Experience: 7
Age: 29.5
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 200
40 Time: 4.48

Burst Score (Rank): 132.90 (96%)
Agility Score (Rank): 11.06 (86%)
Three Cone Drill (Rank): 6.85

Injury PredictorAustin Ekeler's Injury Guide

Low Risk

Chance of Injury in 2024

36.3%

% chance misses at least 2 quarters

Chance of Injury per Game

2.6%

1- 17√1-% Inj/Season

Projected Games Missed 2024

1.30

Durability

5.00

Ability to produce despire relatively minor injuries. 5 being most durable

Injury analysis powered by Draft Sharks Injury Guide, formerly SIP Logo

Injury History

Date League Injury Details
Dec 17, 2017 NFL Hand Wrist Fracture Ekeler suffered a broken hand injury during the loss to the Chiefs and played the rest of the season with a cast on his broken left hand.
Aug 19, 2018 NFL Leg Calf Strain Ekeler sat out of the preseason win over the Seahawks with a sore calf
Dec 9, 2018 NFL Cervical Neck Stinger Ekeler aggravated the neck injury during the game vs. the Bengals. He missed two games
Dec 9, 2018 NFL Head Cranial Concussion Grade 1 Ekeler suffered a concussion injury during the game vs. the Bengals. He missed two games
Oct 4, 2020 NFL Thigh Hamstring Strain Grade 2 Ekeler suffered a hamstring injury in the Chargers' game against the Buccaneers. He was placed on IR and missed 6 games
Jan 3, 2021 NFL Head Cranial Concussion Grade 1 Ekeler suffered a concussion during the season finale game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sep 8, 2021 NFL Thigh Hamstring Sprain/Pull Unspecified Grade 1 Ekeler missed practice due to a hamstring injury ahead of the season opener at Washington.
Oct 28, 2021 NFL Inguinal Hip Sprain Ekeler had a hip issue heading to Week 8 game.
Dec 5, 2021 NFL Pedal Ankle Bruise Ekeler dealt with "bumps and bruises" following Week 13's win over the Bengals. He was good for the next game.
Dec 12, 2021 NFL Pedal Ankle Sprain/Pull Unspecified Grade 1 Ekeler picked up an ankle sprain in the Week 14 game against the Giants.
Sep 10, 2023 NFL Pedal Ankle (high) Sprain Grade 3 Ekeler suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 vs. the Dolphins. He returned in Week 6 vs. the Cowboys.

Basic StatsAustin Ekeler's Preseason Player Analysis

View RB Fantasy Rankings »

Bottom Line

A high-ankle sprain ruined Ekeler’s two-year run as a no-doubt RB1.

Those days are over. Given the presence of Brian Robinson Jr., Washington just doesn’t supply the same opportunity Ekeler enjoyed in L.A.

If he stays healthy, though, the former Charger should pay off a FLEX-range ADP.

What We Learned Last Year

  • Ekeler’s 2023 was ruined by injury.
    • A high-ankle sprain bit the veteran in Week 1.
    • Before departing, he looked like prime Ekeler with 16-117-1 rushing – plus 4-47 receiving.
    • He returned for Week 6 but rarely looked healthy going forward.
  • He set career lows in yards per carry (3.5), yards after contact per attempt (2.64) and Pro Football Focus’ Elusive Rating (49.4).
  • Among 33 RBs with 175+ carries, Ekeler ranked 29th in success rate, 33rd in EPA per rush, and 32nd in explosive rush rate.
  • His receiving volume predictably declined off a whopping 127 targets (2022).
    • His 1.25 yards per route run set a new career low.
  • As a result, Ekeler – a consensus Round 1 fantasy pick – finished as an RB1 only four times post-injury.

What to Expect in 2024

  • Ekeler, now 29, signed a two-year deal with Washington early in free agency.
    • It was a low-cost deal, with his $4.21 million guaranteed ranking 25th among RBs.
  • He joins a backfield that lost Antonio Gibson… but returns ‘23 lead back Brian Robinson Jr.
    • While Robinson wasn’t a 2023 league-winner, he outperformed Ekeler in every relevant rushing metric.
    • His size (6’1, 228) makes him a candidate for goal line work under new OC Kliff Kingsbury
  • Kingsbury flamed out after four years with Arizona.
    • Still, his offenses were fine for fantasy, ranking 16th, 13th, 11th, and 21st in points.
    • They ranked 19th, 6th, 7th, and 20th in rush attempts.
  • Jayden Daniels arrives as a playmaking QB.
    • His top-end rushing ability adds the potential for boosted rush efficiency.
  • Washington’s O-line doesn’t look spectacular.
    • They ranked 22nd in run block win rate last year.
    • The team will undergo turnover, losing G Saahdiq Charles, C Nick Gates, C Tyler Larsen, and LT Charles Leno Jr.
    • Addiitons include C Tyler Biadasz, C Michael Dieter and G Nick Allegretti.
    • We're not expecting any better than a league-average unit.
  • Questions at WR – beyond WR Terry McLaurin – should allow Ekeler’s receiving ability to shine for another season.
    • He’s caught 50+ balls in five straight seasons.

Recent Injury Bites View All Shark Bites »

Brian Robinson Jr., RB WAS

4:28pm EST 11/8/24

Brian Robinson Jr. (Hamstring) Out Again

The Commanders have ruled RB Brian Robinson Jr. out for Sunday's game against the Steelers with the hamstring injury that also cost him Week 9. Robinson managed limited practices Wednesday and Thursday after putting in limited workouts all last week and carrying a "questionable" tag into the game. But he missed Friday's practice this time around and got ruled out early.

View Full Story »

Commanders RB Austin Ekeler sustained a concussion in Monday night's win over the Bengals. It's his third documented concussion. Ekeler now only has six days to get cleared before Week 4's meeting with the Cardinals. Consider him unlikely to play in that one. Ekeler's absence would likely mean an expanded role, particularly in the passing game, for RB Brian Robinson.

View all Austin Ekeler Shark Bites »

Chargers WRs Keenan Allen (heel) and Josh Palmer (concussion) are out for Sunday’s game vs. the Broncos. That leaves Los Angeles with WRs Quentin Johnston, Jalen Guyton, Alex Erickson, and Derius Davis. None is a recommended Week 17 fantasy starter. RB Austin Ekeler and TE Gerald Everett could see more targets with Allen and Palmer out.

View all Keenan Allen Shark Bites »

Chargers QB Justin Herbert will miss the rest of the season after fracturing the index finger in his right (throwing) hand, according to multiple reports. That leaves fifth-year QB Easton Stick to pilot the offense over the final four games. Stick has been with the Chargers since they drafted him in Round 5 back in 2019, but he had attempted just one regular season pass before Sunday. Stick went a forgettable 13 of 24 passing for 179 yards after taking over against the Broncos, throwing no TDs or INTs but fumbling twice (losing one). His 2023 preseason also proved unimpressive, including a 60.3% completion rate, 5.2 yards per pass attempt, 1 TD, 2 INTs, and a 9.0% sack rate. The QB situation obviously downgrades everyone on the Chargers' offense. WR Keenan Allen should remain usable. Stick targeted Allen on 37.5% of his attempts against Denver. He threw another 20.8% toward RB Austin Ekeler, the only other Chargers offensive piece you should still consider using. WRs Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer and TE Gerald Everett look droppable for other options. Herbert should have plenty of time to recover ahead of the 2024 season.

View all Justin Herbert Shark Bites »

Chargers QB Justin Herbert fractured his right index finger in Sunday's loss to the Broncos, HC Brandon Staley said afterward. "Given where we are in the season, a fracture could mean his season is over," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted. We should get more details on Herbert's status on Monday, but the 5-8 Chargers have no reason to rush Herbert back. QB Easton Stick will take over for however long Herbert is out. The 2019 fifth-round pick had one regular-season pass attempt before going 13-of-24 for 179 yards in relief of Herbert today. Stick is obviously a significant downgrade for this Chargers offense.

View all Justin Herbert Shark Bites »

How do Injuries impact your draft strategy?

For us, it's 1/17th of the equation. Hear us out.

The Draft War Room is the only live-sync draft tool that monitors 17 crucial in-draft indicators, including injury likelihood… and adapts to show you which players to pick throughout your draft.

See how we built the 17 indicators into our Draft War Room »
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