Austin Ekeler, a Chargers running back, suffered an ankle injury in the second half of Sunday’s defeat to the Dolphins. Ekeler’s availability for practise on Wednesday will be decided, according to head coach Brandon Staley, who stated on Monday that he is day to day.
Chargers’ HC Brandon Staley said RB Austin Ekeler is dealing with an ankle injury, and his status for practice this week is uncertain.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 11, 2023
Despite being unable to complete the game on Sunday, Ekeler managed 20 touches for 164 yards and a touchdown on 41 snaps. Joshua Kelley, the backup, played 39 snaps and ran 16 times for 91 yards and a score.
What Ekeler brings to the table for Los Angeles
Given how impressive his NFL career has been, it’s difficult to think Ekeler was an undrafted running back out of Western Colorado in 2017. Since the 2021 season began, Ekeler has scored 39 touchdowns in total. In 2022, after accumulating 1,637 combined yards on the ground and in the air, he was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year.
Top 5 Chargers PFF Offensive grades vs. Dolphins:
1. LT Rashawn Slater 80.9
2. RB Joshua Kelley 75.5
3. RB Austin Ekeler 74.8
4. C Corey Linsley 74.2
5. TE Donald Parham Jr. 71.5Big fella was back! pic.twitter.com/qX9nOhA7vw
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) September 11, 2023
At SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Ekeler and the Chargers rushed for 234 yards against Miami, but nonetheless Los Angeles was unable to claim victory. The Chargers became the first team since 2000 to lose a game despite rushing for more than 200 yards, keeping their opponent to less than 100 rushing yards, and winning the turnover margin by at least two when they fell 36-34 to the Dolphins.
Heading into Week 1, teams who…
• Rushed for 200+
• Held opponent under 100 rushing yards
• Did not commit a turnover
• Won turnover margin by at least 2…were 110-0 since 2000, per @TruMediaSports
Now 110-1 after #Chargers lost yesterday.https://t.co/BcxBL6whcM
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) September 11, 2023
Who can play instead ?
The Chargers decided to bench undrafted rookie free agent Elijah Dotson, who played just one snap, in favour of Isaiah Spiller, a 2022 fourth-round pick.
If Ekeler is unable to participate on Sunday in Nashville, the Chargers will turn to Joshua Kelley. The Dolphins game on Sunday saw fourth-year running back Kelley gallop for 91 yards and a touchdown, one more than he managed the whole 2022 season.
While Kelley can fill in temporarily, the Chargers must hope that Justin Herbert’s favorite target, Ekeler, who demanded a trade over the offseason but eventually stayed put, won’t be out for too long.
Ekeler missed just one game in 2021 and played all 17 games in 2022.
