Another Commanders addition that reunites a player with a familiar face: according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Washington Commanders are signing running back Austin Ekeler to a two-year deal worth up to $11.43 million.
Per Pelissero, Ekeler gets a $3 million signing bonus and $4.82mm total in 2024, with a chance to earn another $1.5mm in incentives this season.
The deal reunites Ekeler with former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn, who is now the Commanders’ run game coordinator and running backs coach, and gets Washington an end-zone hound who has scored 69 touchdowns in seven years in San Diego, including an NFL-leading 20 in 2021.
Ekeler, 28, was undrafted out of Western Colorado in 2017 and been a stalwart in the Chargers backfield since. He had a down 2023 due to injuries and an ineffective Chargers offense, notching only 1,064 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns, while losing a career-high four fumbles, in 14 games; however, that came off an 18-TD season, where he had 311 touches for 1,630 yards, setting career-highs in rushing yards (915), rushing TD (13), and receptions (107).
That latter category is likely where Ekeler will fit into Washington’s offense, replacing Antonio Gibson as the primary receiving back while also providing a top rushing option if Brian Robinson goes down. Over his career, Ekeler has 990 rushes for 4,355 yards, and 440 catches for 3,884 yards – including 92 grabs for 993 yards and 8 TD under Lynn in 2019, a line many wide receivers would envy.
Gibson is now the fifth signing committed to DC and the fourth to have a connection to the new coaching staff; center Tyler Biadasz and defensive end Dorance Armstrong joined Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr., while tight end Zach Ertz, who signed last week, played for Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona.