The 11-5 Washington Commanders travel to Arlington, Texas, to face off against the 7-9 Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Sunday for Week 18. With a win or a Green Bay Packers loss to the Chicago Bears, Washington will clinch the sixth seed in the NFC. However, with a loss and a Packers win against the Bears, the Commanders would fall to the seventh seed.
Washington Commanders’ veteran running back has dealt with two head injuries this season
Commanders’ veteran running back Austin Ekeler has missed five games this season due to two separate concussions. Ekeler’s first concussion occurred in Week 3, and he missed Week 4 as a result. His most recent concussion came in Week 12, which caused him to spend the next five weeks and four games on injured reserve.
Also Read: Washington Commanders: Massive Injury Update On Austin Ekeler
Since he has missed the league-mandated minimum of four games on injured reserve, he is eligible to return to the football field.
The Commanders opened up his 21-day practice window
According to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, the Washington Commanders designated Austin Ekeler for return from injured reserve, effectively opening up his 21-day practice window. Ekeler will have 21 days to practice, and the Commanders have 21 days to activate him to the active roster, or else he reverts to season-ending injured reserve unless the team loses during the playoffs before the window expires. As Meirov points out, his return is “a potential boost.”
The playoff-bound #Commanders have designated RB Austin Ekeler to return from IR. A potential boost. pic.twitter.com/KXBCEbkhXd
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 1, 2025
The veteran running back revealed the awful symptoms he’s dealt with since suffering his second concussion in 2024
During a radio appearance in early December on 106.7 The Fan, Austin Ekeler detailed the devastating symptoms he has experienced since suffering his second concussion during Week 12 of the 2024 season. He went on to say that he is trending in the right direction for a possible return to the football field.
“Definitely went through it there for a little bit, just with the concussion symptoms and trying to just get through the fogginess feeling, but definitely trending in the right direction. Now just still dealing with some repercussions of the hit, but trending in the right direction,” Ekeler said. “I think it’s important to kind of diagnose the magnitude of the situation – like, I didn’t even remember how I got off the field. I remember kind of coming to, but I had some short-term memory loss, and all I remember was my wife was sitting in the room, and I was getting evaluated by our medical staff in the back room.”
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