The Washington Commanders are looking for someone to add in their running back room after lead back Austin Ekeler suffered a right achilles tear in last night’s Thursday Night Football loss to the Green Bay Packers. Ekeler who is 30 years old will likely need season ending surgery to repair his right achilles after suffering the injury from non-contact late in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s game. Ekeler was poised to be the lead back for the Commanders all season after trading Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers before the start of the regular season.
Here is the play on which Commanders RB Austin Ekleler suffered an Achilles injury: pic.twitter.com/bcicDv6i0K
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 12, 2025
Ekeler went down with 5:50 left in the game after trying to make a cut on a 3rd-and-10 play that resulted in the running back falling to the turf, gripping his right lower leg. Ekeler was then carted off and ruled out for the rest of the game quickly after. It will be interesting to see what moves Dan Quinn and the Commanders front office make to try to find another back to support rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt who only had four carries for 17 yards in last night’s loss. I am curious to see if the Commanders potentially reach out to a team like the Texans who acquired veteran running back Nick Chubb in free agency once lead back Joe Mixon returns from IR. Mixon has to miss at least two more games but maybe the Texans could be persuaded to part ways with Chubb sooner if the Commanders leverage an appealing offer with some draft capital.
