The Washington Commanders offense was one of the most efficient in all of the NFL in 2024. One of the key pieces to that unit has been named a potential cut candidate when training camp ends.
Washington Commanders predicted to cut 2024 offensive standout after training camp originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Washington Commanders had one of the most dynamic and efficient offenses in the NFL in 2024 — and with all the moves they made this offseason —it’s clear they are hoping to ride that momentum into 2025 and make a run toward the Super Bowl.
Washington averaged 28.5 points per game last season, which ranked 5th in the NFL. The Commanders finished the regular season with 6,284 yards of total offense, which was more than any team in the NFL.
While Jayden Daniels played a major role in Washington’s offensive success, his dual-threat ability forced defenses to account for him passing and running which opened up the ground game in a major way. The Commanders benefited from that greatly, leading in NFL in rushing efficiency with 2,619 yards on 526 attempts (5 yards per carry). Washington found the end zone 25 time times on the ground in 2024.
In the postseason, the Washington Commanders continued to dominate with their rushing attack, leading all teams in both rushing yards and touchdowns.
While Daniels was the focal point of the Commanders offense, the duo of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler in the backfield played a major role in success on the ground. Robinson finished the year with 799 yards and eight touchdowns, while Ekeler added another 367 yards and four touchdowns as a rusher, while tacking on 366 yards on 35 catches as a receiver.
Ekeler only played in 11 games due to a lingering concussion, but every time he stepped on the field he made big plays for the Commanders, often taking a routine screen for a big gain or picking up a critical third down on an unexpected handoff.
The former Chargers standout also played a pivotal role on special teams, earning second-team All-Pro for his impact in the return game.
So it may be a surprise to see that Bleacher Report has the Commanders potentially cutting Ekeler before Week 1 in a move that would be surprising to say the least:
The Washington Commanders brought in Austin Ekeler to provide a veteran presence to their backfield last year. The results were mixed, though, as the versatile running back only contributed 733 yards and four touchdowns from scrimmage on 112 touches across 12 contests.
While Ekeler performed decently when healthy, he struggled to rekindle the elite form he displayed during his prime with the Los Angeles Chargers. His performances were a far cry from the player who amassed 3,195 yards and 38 touchdowns from scrimmage during a two-year stretch between the 2021-22 seasons.
Although age (Ekeler turned 30 in May) and injuries have slowed the once-dynamic back down, he could still be an asset in the right system. A team that prefers to pass more often than the Commanders (who ranked No. 26 in the league by passing on just 52.6 percent of their offensive plays) and checkdown to the backs frequently could get more mileage out of the fading star.
Ekeler provides strong value in the return game as well. He earned second-team All-Pro honors for his special teams work last year, finishing No. 3 in the league with 594 yards on 19 kick returns.
Although giving up his veteran savvy, pass-catching abilities and return contributions won't be easy, Ekeler is ultimately replaceable with seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt now in Washington's backfield mix. The team would gain over $3.4 million in cap savings while only taking a meager $1.5 million in dead money on by releasing Ekeler.
Don’t expect Ekeler to linger on the market too long if he’s released. The back still has some tread left on his tires and could shine in a pass-heavy scheme while also working as a kick returner.
Category: Football
