Losing running back Austin Ekeler to a season-ending injury wasn't what the Washington Commanders had in mind just two games into the campaign. Adam Peters moved quickly to find a potential replacement, and it might be a lot smarter than people think.
Ekeler sustained a torn Achilles tendon after going down late on Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers. This was a devastating blow to the player's hopes of seizing another starting opportunity. And given that the Western Colorado product is out of contract next spring, there's a good chance that he's played his final game for Washington.
The Commanders secured a contingency plan quickly. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Chase Edmonds has joined Washington's practice squad. It's an intriguing addition, but there's just no telling for sure how much he has left in the tank.
Chase Edmonds can adjust quickly with Commanders thanks to Kliff Kingsbury connection
Edmonds missed the entire 2024 campaign with a knee injury, which is the latest in a long line of health issues suffered by the former Fordham college star in recent years. He was a dynamic dual-threat at the peak of his powers, and there is an already developed relationship with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury that cannot be overlooked.
The player's best NFL seasons from a productivity standpoint came working under Kingsbury's guidance as part of a running back committee with the Arizona Cardinals. He's a small, compact runner equally adept in rushing or receiving out of the backfield. It's been a long time since his 2021 campaign, when he went over 900 all-purpose yards, but perhaps linking back up with the play-caller can reignite the spark within.
The 2018 fourth-round selection has missed a lot of football. Edmonds will get time to work himself back into genuine football shape before the Commanders think about getting him involved on game days. That might not happen at all if Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Jeremy McNichols become a productive trio. But this isn't a bad fallback option if he can get back to anything like his old form.
Nobody is expecting miracles from Edmonds. The Commanders are taking a flier of sorts, and desperate times call for desperate measures. But if Kingsbury believes he's got something left to give, that should be enough to inspire some confidence among the fan base.
Edmonds is not going to come in and immediately become the No. 1 option held by Ekeler. But this is so out of left field that it just might work.