The Washington Commanders’ fears were confirmed when an MRI on Saturday revealed running back Austin Ekeler tore his right Achilles tendon during Thursday’s loss in Green Bay, a league source told The Athletic. He is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Ekeler is one of four Washington starters to suffer an injury against the Green Bay Packers, and he isn’t the only one done for the season. Defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. was carted off with a quad injury in the second quarter and will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery. Receiver Noah Brown and tight end John Bates also suffered groin injuries.

Coach Dan Quinn declined to provide specifics about the injuries immediately after the game. But in the locker room, Ekeler was visibly disappointed while wearing a walking boot and using crutches.

He went down without contact away from the ball on a pass play late in the fourth quarter. Ekeler grabbed his right calf and ankle as he crumpled to the ground, then eventually hobbled off the field with the help of team trainers. He was later carted back to the locker room and ruled out with the Achilles injury.

“Thank you for all the love and well wishes,” Ekeler wrote in a message posted on his Instagram account on Saturday. “I appreciate you all.”

Losing Ekeler is a tremendous blow to Washington’s offense, after the team reconfigured its running backs room to have a mix of speed, elusiveness and versatility.

Although the Commanders have taken a committee approach with their running backs, Ekeler, 30, became the lead on the depth chart following the trade of Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers before the start of the season, and has also been a staple in the pass game.

Since 2017, when he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent, Ekeler has totaled 4,288 receiving yards and 4,534 yards after the catch to rank third and second, respectively, among running backs in that span.

He signed a two-year deal with the Commanders in March 2024, when the team overhauled its front office, coaching staff and most of its roster. Ekeler quickly provided a boost to the offense and the return game, while proving he still had the speed and elusiveness of his finer days in L.A. He earned second-team All-Pro honors as a kick returner after totaling 594 yards on 19 returns last season.

But injuries have cut short both of his seasons in Washington. A pair of concussions held him out of five games in 2024, and now the Achilles injury will limit him to two games in 2025 — just as free agency approaches in March.

Without him, the rookie known as “Bill,” Jacory Croskey-Merritt, will move up to be the lead back on the depth chart, followed by veteran Jeremy McNichols. The loss of Ekeler should also open the door for Chris Rodriguez Jr. to earn some playing time. The third-year back made the 53-man roster but has been inactive for both games this season.

“It’s definitely hard, very hard actually, because Austin, he’s one of the great leaders on this team,” Croskey-Merritt said Thursday night. “I just learned a lot from him day by day, so it’s definitely hard.”

The Commanders may also look for reinforcement at receiver to help fill the void in the pass game. Brown has been on the injury report since the start of the season because of a lingering knee issue, and left Thursday night’s game with a groin injury. Bates, who also suffered a groin injury, was seen walking in the postgame locker room.

(Top photo of Austin Ekeler from 2024: Greg Fiume / Getty Images)