Commanders Predicted To Cut Ties With 8-Year Veteran Playmaker

With NFL training camps inching closer, it won’t be long before teams start making hard decisions. The Washington Commanders have become one of the most intriguing to watch.

As rosters trim from 90 players down to 53, a few names will catch fans off guard. One of them might be Austin Ekeler.

The Commanders signed Ekeler to a two-year, $8.34 million contract last offseason, hoping his veteran presence could solidify the backfield. Which it did, but maybe not to the extent that the front office and coaching staff envisioned.

The team would gain over $3.4 million in cap savings while only taking a meager $1.5 million in dead money on by releasing Ekeler, per Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay.

He started out as a co-RB1 next to Brian Robinson Jr., and the latter became more of the weekly headliner as last season moved along.

Commanders’ Running Game Is In Great Shape

Ekeler recorded 367 rushing yards on 77 attempts for four touchdowns over 12 appearances, while hauling in 35 passes for 366 yards and zero receiving scores.

That’s a far cry from the guy who scored 38 touchdowns over two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 and 2022. His explosiveness looked like it had faded. And his role in Washington’s offense just never clicked.

Now, as camp nears, his spot on the roster is far from guaranteed.

He’s 30 years old — the unwritten expiration date for a lot of running backs. And it showed last year. But to be fair, it wasn’t all on him. Washington’s offense rarely threw to backs, ranking 26th in the league in running back targets.

Ekeler has never been a bruiser. He’s not meant to run through linebackers between the tackles. His value has always come as a receiver out of the backfield — forcing mismatches, catching screens, and turning short passes into chunk plays. That wasn’t part of the game plan in D.C.

So it wasn’t just a player in decline. It was a player miscast.

Ekeler Could Be A Better Match Elsewhere

There’s also the financial side. If Washington releases Ekeler before the season, they’d save about $3.4 million in cap space. That’s not nothing. And with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt drawing many positive reviews thus far in workouts, the Commanders might feel it’s time to go with the more modern approach that many teams are coming around on.

That would make Ekeler one of the first notable veterans to hit the open market. But it likely wouldn’t be for long.

While his offensive numbers dipped, Ekeler still made a big impact on special teams in 2024. He returned 19 kicks for 594 yards and was named second-team All-Pro as a return man. That ability alone makes him attractive to playoff contenders. Teams always need field position help.

It’s also worth noting that in the right system, Ekeler can still contribute on offense. Think about teams that spread the field and involve running backs heavily in the pass game.

Just two seasons ago, Ekeler was one of the most productive offensive weapons in the league. Now, his spot on the Commanders’ roster is in peril. But to his credit, he’s adapted — adding return value, staying healthy and continuing to find ways to contribute.

So as training camps begin and depth charts start to shake out, keep an eye on Washington. If they make the move, expect Ekeler’s name to start popping up in connection with contenders right away.

Ekeler might not be RB1 anymore. But he’s not done either. If the Commanders decide to part ways, he could wind up being one of the quickest signings of the preseason.