Working again Austin Ekeler was a focus of the Chargers offense for the previous seven years, however he discovered himself because the odd man out with a brand new regime, led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, taking up.
Ekeler might have envisioned ending his profession in Los Angeles the place he started as an undrafted rookie in 2017, however that’s not how issues have performed out. He turned a free agent after the 2023 season and signed a two-year contract with the Commanders in March.
The 29-year-old hinted he noticed it coming, nonetheless.
“I believe you’ll be able to form of see how they have been constructing the staff to date this offseason,” Ekeler stated on the “Up & Adams Present.” “Went out and drafted a deal with first spherical, introduced in some larger backs over from Baltimore. So it is like, hey, they need a man they will hand the ball off to 300 instances a yr.”
Ekeler has by no means carried the ball 300 instances in his seven-year NFL profession. Probably the most he is ever had in a season was 206, which got here in 2021.
That is why Ekeler understands he merely wasn’t a superb match for the Chargers anymore.
“Look, I have not had that capability to do this. That is not my recreation. That is not how Austin Ekeler’s gonna be the very best on the sphere,” Ekeler added. “So there was the misalignment there, which, no hurt, no foul, I’ll go discover someplace else the place Austin might be the very best model of myself on the market.”
Ekeler has the possibility to proceed taking part in his fashion of soccer in Washington.
Working again Brian Robinson Jr. ought to complement Ekeler effectively within the backfield as each gamers have totally different ability units.
Ekeler will possible be used within the passing recreation, which he has been all through his profession, amassing 440 catches for 3,884 yards and 30 touchdowns.
As for the Chargers, they are going to have a run-first mentality below Harbaugh and new operating backs Gus Edwards and J.Ok. Dobbins.
