Dan Quinn clarifies Austin Ekeler's status after scary incident vs. Cowboys

Austin Ekeler's influence on and off the field has been tremendous for the Washington Commanders. The prolific running back's proven to be a shrewd addition on offense and special teams since arriving in 2024 free agency. Unfortunately for the veteran, his momentum was dented following a scary incident suffered in Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys.

With the Commanders facing a late deficit with mere seconds left on the clock, Ekeler ran at full speed in the kick return game to give rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels another shot at a miracle. He was met with violent intentions and fell to the ground, causing immediate concern from both sets of players.

Ekeler lay motionless on the field in what was a very scary incident. The medical staff rushed to the scene and worked on the player in the critical early moments of collisions like this. The former undrafted free agent out of Colorado State managed to walk off the field with help, but he appeared disorientated and woozy from the devastating blow.

The Commanders couldn't come through at the death and suffered their third straight loss. But the immediate concern centered on Ekeler's status and the potential ramifications for Washington with fellow running back Brian Robinson Jr. also suffering an injury complication on the game's first play.

Commanders RB Austin Ekeler suffered a concussion on brutal hit

Head coach Dan Quinn, who met with Ekeler after the game along with general manager Adam Peters, provided additional clarification during his media availability after the contest. He revealed that the dual-threat weapon suffered a concussion and will undergo further tests to determine its severity. He was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

While it's a blow, it could have been a lot worse.

Washington has one more game remaining until the long-awaited bye week. Ekeler will enter the league's concussion protocol, so the next few days are crucial. However, it might be worth the Commanders giving him some extra time to recuperate to ensure he's ready to hit the ground running down the stretch.

The Commanders now find themselves in a precarious situation. All hope is not lost despite their current slump, but a rousing effort is needed from all involved to swing the pendulum in their favor once again. Ekeler is an integral part of this. Even so, putting him out there when he isn't 100 percent is simply not an option.

More information will become available in the coming days. This should provide a broader timeline regarding Ekeler's recovery, but everyone can breathe a sigh of relief that it wasn't anything more serious.

It's a violent game where no half-measures are given. Ekeler found that out to his cost, so the Commanders must give him all the time he needs to get right.

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