A ghost from the Los Angeles Chargers‘ past popped up earlier in June when Commanders running back and former Charger, Austin Ekeler, was on the Stories Untold with Natalie Bode podcast, talking all things football, including his time in LA. And let’s just say it started out fairly positive concerning his old team, but then got negative.
When discussing the draft process, everyone is aware that Austin Ekeler went undrafted; however, he explained how timing played a significant role in him receiving a substantial opportunity with the Chargers.
After putting in the work on the squad, there was a period where Melvin Gordon, their main back at the time, was holding out, and everything just aligned.
“I was signed as the running back, Justin Herbert was drafted to us, we have a stud quarterback. And we have Joe Lombardi, great offensive coordinator coming in, and it was kind of this timing for me. It happened to be also when I was in year five, six, kind of my prime of understanding the league, getting into my you know kind of peak physique as well, and so it all kind of came together at the right point, and so timing yes definitely plays a part of it, but you have to set up the timing by always continuing to be ready…”
Starting in 2021, Ekeler’s stardom took off, and that year, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), he had 12 rushing touchdowns and eight receiving touchdowns, and in 2022, he had 15 rushing touchdowns with five receiving touchdowns.
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2022 was his workhorse season. Wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen were like a revolving door that season, as there were few times when they were both healthy and on the field at the same time.
So yes, Ekeler did do a lot, but it was really built on the fact that there weren’t any suitable backups on the roster, and the few that were, like running back Joshua Kelley, were not given that many opportunities, and Ekeler really filled a need that season as a rusher and a receiver.
A Shift Happened With Austin Ekeler And The Los Angeles Chargers
However, those two years led Ekeler to start thinking about his future with the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Again, one of these things about timing, you know, I’m coming off my second year of leading the league in touchdowns, things like that, and I’m going to the Chargers like, ‘Hey, let’s get an extension like strike while the iron’s hot.’ I had one more year left on my contract, so they didn’t have to move anywhere, they say ‘no.’ I’m like, ‘Okay, let me go find a trade,’ let me get out of here, let me go try to at least take advantage of the time while I’ve been you know in the top the past couple years. They’re like, ‘Okay, great, but we want a first-round pick for you.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, so you don’t want to pay me, but you want a first-round pick.’ I’m like ‘Okay.’ So I learned a little bit about leverage, you know, and being in a position to negotiate things like that. Again, timing, and so for myself, I was in a position where I didn’t really have any leverage.”
Ekeler then went on to say how the Chargers “sucked” that last year since they won “like five games,” and after that season, he connected with former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn and eventually ended up on the Commanders.
When I heard about Ekeler seeking a trade at the start of the 2023 season, I was worried because he played such a large role within the Chargers’ offense. But looking back on it, yes, Ekeler was vital to those 2021 to 2022 seasons, but with all that production, he had quite a few rushing fumbles as well as drops on the receiving side during those years.
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Running back J.K. Dobbins, meanwhile, in 2024, according to PFF, only had two drops in receiving and no rushing fumbles, with slightly fewer rushing snaps played than Ekeler in 2022. And if we look at run and pass blocking, Ekeler wasn’t great in those areas.
Though it was sad when Ekeler parted ways with the Chargers during free agency, brighter things were and are on the horizon for them. They have Najee Harris now and a solid draft pick in Omarion Hampton, and look to be in a good spot for 2025.