As the Washington Commanders basked in the glory of their sensational Week 3 upset win over the Seattle Seahawks, general manager Adam Peters was working. And a familiar face now looks set to return.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Commanders are bringing back Austin Ekeler, pending a successful physical. This is an eye-catching development, but it's a popular move for someone who earned high respect in the locker room during his first two years with the club.
Ekeler joined before the 2024 season and emerged as a valuable pass-catching outlet out of the backfield. The veteran assumed lead-back duties in 2025, but lasted just two games before suffering a torn Achilles tendon against the Green Bay Packers.
Commanders turn to Austin Ekeler to bolster their underperforming rushing attack
That ended Ekeler's season, and he wasn't brought back initially when his contract expired. But after an indifferent start to Washington's ground game, Peters has now returned to the dual-threat presence.
And if he's healthy enough, Ekeler can contribute sooner rather than later.
Ekeler has been working hard to get back into shape. He got the all-clear to resume football activities during the summer, which was the biggest hurdle to overcome. Interest in his services was growing, with the Carolina Panthers bringing him in for a workout last week without offering him a deal.
Now, the Commanders look set to give him a lifeline. If everything goes well with his medical assessments, an emotional return will be confirmed.
Obviously, Ekeler might need a bedding-in period. He has to learn a new scheme under offensive coordinator David Blough, but having worked with the coach last season, he should pick things up quickly. And make no mistake; this should serve as a warning to Washington's underperforming running backs.
Austin Ekeler can make a big contribution to Commanders if healthy
Even though Ekeler hasn't played in over a year, he knows how to put up numbers in the regular season pressure cooker. He should also be relatively fresh after a lengthy absence, which isn't a bad thing for running backs of his age.
And if the likes of Jacory Croskey-Merritt cannot raise their performance levels, Ekeler is more than capable of eating into their touches.
The Commanders moved away from aging veterans this offseason, which was the correct call. Now, Peters is going back to an old friend to assist in a potential problem area.
And the more capable bodies Washington has, the better.
It's an intriguing development, at the very least.
Ekeler knows the franchise. He embraced head coach Dan Quinn's culture, and if his unfortunate injury had not held him back last season, the Western Colorado product might have been a hugely influential part of the team's plans.
Now, he gets the chance to make up for some lost time.
And sometimes, that's all a player of Ekeler's standing needs.
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