Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is out for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings with an ankle injury, the team announced Friday afternoon. Here’s what you need to know:
- Ekeler left LA’s 36-34 Week 1 loss to the Miami Dolphins late in the fourth quarter with an injury after rushing for 117 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
- The 28-year-old back did not practice in Week 2 and did not lose to the Titans on Sunday.
- Ekeler did not practice in Week 3.
- Linebacker Eric Kendricks also missed Sunday.
The Athleteimmediate analysis by c:
Ekeler is working his way back
Ekeler provided a bit of optimism earlier in the week when he appeared on the practice field Wednesday in a segment open to the media. He didn’t take the field for any of the three practices last week before the Chargers’ loss to the Titans. Ekeler did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, but he wore a t-shirt jersey and sneakers and watched individual drills while chatting with running backs coach Derrick Foster. Ekeler did the same thing on Thursday. But he wasn’t on the field Friday before the Chargers officially waived him after practice.
Ekeler was officially listed as questionable last Friday, but the Chargers had decided at that point he would not travel to Nashville, as The Athletic first reported. Ekeler was officially downgraded on Saturday. This week, the Chargers decided to waive him on Friday. When asked if listing him as questionable for Week 2 and out for Week 3 was an implication of a step back for Ekeler with the ankle, coach Brandon Staley said: “There is no implication.”
“He worked really hard to get back,” Staley added. “We’ll see how it goes in the next few weeks.”
The Chargers rushing attack should return to Minnesota
Joshua Kelley leads the way for the second week in a row. Kelley had 39 rushing yards on 13 carries last week against the Titans, who have one of the best fronts in football led by defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Tennessee’s defense dominated the line of scrimmage in the game. The Vikings are 31st in the league in defensive success rate on designed rushes, according to TruMedia, so they won’t present the same challenges as Tennessee.
There should be opportunities for offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s rushing attack to get back on track. The Chargers led the league in rushing in Week 1 against the Dolphins. Kelley had 91 yards on 16 carries in that game. With Ekeler out last week, rookie Elijah Dotson played nine snaps and second-year Isaiah Spiller played four snaps. Dotson appears to have the upper hand as the RB2 behind Kelley.
Required reading
(Photo: Douglas P. DeFelice / Getty Images)