Amid a disheartening defeat, Austin Ekeler's season was likely lost as well.
Ekeler is believed to have torn his Achilles in the Washington Commanders' 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
Ekeler, 30, will undergo an MRI to confirm the injury, but there isn't an abundance of hope going into the imaging, Rapoport added. A torn Achilles would effectively end Ekeler's 2025 season.
Down, 27-10, with less than four minutes to play, Ekeler was lined up in the slot, chipped a defender, settled briefly near the sideline and then turned to go upfield, but quickly crumpled to the field with a non-contact injury and grabbed the back of his right lower leg.
After being helped off the field, Ekeler was carted to the locker room and swiftly ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Ekeler had eight carries for 17 yards and a pair of catches for seven yards on Thursday.
This is the running back's ninth career year and second with the Commanders. He was limited to 12 games last season due to a concussion.
With rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt emerging as the team's RB1A and Ekeler as the RB2A, it's likely the first-year player will get more reps going forward. Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr., who was inactive Thursday, should also see more playing time.
