The Chargers running back room had a highly successful preseason. As a result, they are carrying four backs on the 53-man roster: Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller, and Elijah Dotson.
It should be no surprise that Ekeler remains the leader of the group and will continue to have a high workload.
“We got four running backs we feel confident about. Austin’s gonna carry the load and you know, we’ll need those other guys as we go through the season” Moore said.
Ekeler didn’t touch the ball in the Chargers’ preseason this past August, and neither did any other starters on offense.
In 2022, Ekeler rushed for 915 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. On top of these rushing numbers, Ekeler had 722 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
As a versatile back, Ekeler will continue to be the go-to guy in the running back room and aid in opening up the offense for quarterback Justin Herbert.
“Austin’s the guy, certainly we feel really really confident about Austin. But I think as the season goes on… we want to be able to utilize those other guys,” Moore added.
Kelley, Spiller, and Dotson showed out in preseason, combining for a total of 542 yards and three touchdowns over three games.
With Moore’s new offensive system, the running back room should excel by utilizing different looks and a planned rotation to help alleviate some of the pressure from RB1 Ekeler.
This will allow Ekeler to use his energy more efficiently and be explosive off the line throughout the game rather than slowing down in the second half from too many carries.
With four running backs on the roster, the Chargers are sure to make an impact on the ground.