Tag: Austin Ekeler

Brian Robinson Jr. is out for the Commanders

No Brian Robinson today vs. Giants.

When ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted late Saturday that Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. was expected to play Sunday against the Giants, things appeared to be trending in the right direction.

However, Robinson reportedly worked out in front of head coach Dan Quinn and running backs coach Anthony Lynn, and the Commanders didn’t feel he looked right.

Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network posted the following video of Robinson working out.

It’s a tough blow for the Commanders because Robinson has enjoyed some of his best games against New York. He had 133 rushing yards in Week 2 against the Giants.

In anticipation of Robinson potentially being sidelined, Washington elevated second-year running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. from the practice squad. The Commanders will have a backfield trio of Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Rodriguez.

Commanders vs. Bears: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 8

The Commanders host the Bears in Week 8 and are slight underdogs at home, but there are three reasons for optimism ahead of their matchup.

The Washington Commanders are having some kind of season in 2024, with a 5-2 record and leading the NFC East for the first time in a very long time. The offense is unified behind rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, and while the defense could use some help in a couple of areas, it’s been pretty solid, too.

This week, the Commanders host a Chicago Bears team that is hell-bent on proving Caleb Williams is better than Daniels. He’s not. The Bears lost to a horrible Indianapolis Colts team in Week 3, and he struggled mightily with the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. Williams has improved over the last few weeks, but the Bears have also faced the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers the last two weeks, so do with that what you will.

The Commanders’ quarterback situation is up in the air, but that’s no reason to be concerned. In fact, there are three reasons for optimism in Week 8.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Marcus Mariota is a capable veteran

When Jayden Daniels went down early in the game against the Carolina Panthers, Marcus Mariota stepped in and got the job done, leading the Commanders to a dominant 40-7 victory. He’s been in the league for almost 10 years, so he knows the game very well. He can use his legs when needed, makes accurate throws, and knows how to lead an offense.

The Bears have a much better defense than the Panthers, but if Kliff Kingsbury calls the right plays, Mariota will execute them. And this is only if Daniels doesn’t suit up; it’s still possible that he will play on Sunday.

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The Bears are 0-2 on the road

Both of the Bears’ losses this season have come on the road, at Houston and Indianapolis. The Texans are well on their way to making a postseason appearance. The Colts look refreshed behind veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, but it’s unlikely they will go far sharing the division with the Texans.

And don’t forget, Williams’ NFL debut was almost ruined by the Titans in Week 1. His only saving grace was the defensive and special teams efforts to put points on the board.

The Commanders’ defense will still have its work cut out for it, but all they have to do is fluster Williams, and the Bears’ offense will crumble. They have the fifth-worst rush offense and ninth-worst pass offense in the league, and they’ve allowed 20 sacks, but the Commanders can’t go in cocky. Their defense has its struggles, and it needs to set the tone early so that it shows up to play.

Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images

Washington has an X-Factor

His name hasn’t been called as much this season as in the past, but Austin Ekeler is the X-factor everyone has forgotten. He can run the ball, he can catch the ball, he is a ridiculously talented utility player who can do just about anything you ask him to on the field. It’s not just Brian Robinson, Jr. and Terry McLaurin out there as weapons for the quarterback.

Ekeler joined the Commanders earlier this year, and he’s recorded 32 carries for 188 yards and a touchdown, plus 17 receptions for 201 yards. He averages 5.9 yards per carry and 11.8 yards per reception. Against a tough Bears defense, Ekeler can be a game-changer.

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What everyone said after the Commanders’ Week 7 rout of Panthers

Here’s what everyone said after the Commanders’ blowout win over the Panthers.

On Sunday, the Washington Commanders were much better than the Carolina Panthers, running away from them in a 40-7 rout. Here is a collection of postgame quotes from players, analysts, coaches, and media personalities.

Craig Hoffman

“Well, that was fun, wasn’t it? Well, maybe. The score, that was fun. But, a big ‘but’ with the Jayden Daniels injury.”

“Dante Fowler gets that pick-6 and I was literally like, ‘I can throw my not pad away.’ There was no point in the notes of this game. The game ended right there. Because from that point, Carolina was going to be chasing the game.”

Danny Rouhier

“I’m happy but there is also something missing, you know?”

“I don’t feel euphoric here after a blowout win. We usually tell people to smell the roses because they don’t come around all that often. Taking advantage of a bad opponent, you don’t apologize for who is on your schedule. You handle them the way Washington just did.”

Marcus Mariota

“When you have a brotherhood like this, you’ll find ways to win.”

“Obviously, it’s going to take some time, whatever it is. We have no idea, but I think he was in good spirits. You check on him, see how he is doing. And then we will take it day to day.”

Austin Ekeler

“He’s (Mariota) been a great leader for us, and he went out there and showed it again.”

Zach Ertz

“Obviously my first thought was just concerned about him (Jayden Daniels). He’s the leader of our team essentially and he’s a phenomenal player. He’s going to be a great player for a long time, and he’s really a good friend of mine. I was obviously just worried about him. From there, you just gotta get back out there and play.”

“We got a lot of confidence in Marcus. They didn’t bring him here just to be a backup. They brought him in here to compete with Jayden obviously. We got a lot of confidence in Marcus.”

Dan Quinn

“The message for this week was, ‘Can we get stronger’? We knew there was another gear for us to find. We had to dig for it and find it. I was pleased to see the fight in the guys. I thought Dante’s touchdown was really the thing that set it off.”

“I cannot give you an update on Jayden. I will just as soon as we find out. We’ll do some further tests tomorrow. Then, when we get together in the afternoon, we’ll give you an update.”

“You know what? I was really proud of Marcus (Mariota). It’s been a tough start, IR and getting an injury. For him to come back and see that kind of poise in the game, there was no flinch.”

“I look back to see post-practice to see who is out there working, and he and the guys are going through the script. I tip my hat to he and Tavita, David Blough and others that are spending that extra time. So, if your moment gets called you are ready to deliver for the team. I  think that is a really powerful thing.”

Sam Fortier

“Dan Quinn said he didn’t have an update, said he would have one Monday. His (Daniels) status going forward is the biggest thing for this organization.”

“The offense kept rolling without him (Daniels). Kliff Kingsbury was cooking. The Panthers defense was very depleted…”

“They (Commanders) are demolishing bad teams. Yes, the five teams they have beaten so far have a combined record of 9-25. But it is still the NFL. I think it says something when you are taking care of business to this degree.”

 

Commanders rule RB Brian Robinson Jr. out vs. Ravens

Robinson is out for Sunday, but the Commanders do get some DL help back vs. Ravens.

The Washington Commanders will be without one of their top offensive players in Sunday’s showdown with the Baltimore Ravens. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. was ruled out on Saturday afternoon.

Robinson, who is dealing with a knee injury, missed practice all week. Last week, Robinson missed practice but played in Sunday’s win over the Browns. While he only carried the ball seven times in that game, he did score two touchdowns. Robinson leads the Commanders with 325 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Robinson’s absence means more carries for Austin Ekeler, who has been the 1b to Robinson’s 1a this season. Veteran Jeremy McNichols will continue to see an increased role. McNichols emerged in Ekeler’s absence two weeks ago, rushing for 68 yards and two touchdowns. He scored again in last week’s win over Cleveland.

As is customary before every game, the Commanders made some roster moves. Washington downgraded Robinson and rookie linebacker Jordan Magee from questionable to out. The Commanders activated defensive lineman Efe Obada from the reserve/PUP list and signed running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. and cornerback Kevon Seymour from the practice squad. This will be Rodriguez’s first game of the season. Washington elevated Seymour last week.

Commanders will be without two key players in Week 5

The Commanders received good news about their RBs, but two key players are out.

During his Friday press conference, head coach Dan Quinn revealed some positive news about the Washington Commanders’ injury situation. Running back Austin Ekeler had cleared concussion protocol and would return for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.

Also, starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. was “trending in the right way” for Week 5 after missing two days of practice with a knee injury.

Unfortunately, the Commanders will be without two key contributors.

Starting defensive end Clelin Ferrell will miss a third consecutive game with a knee injury. Ferrell had a sack in each of Washington’s first two games.

Ferrell appears close to a return and Quinn doesn’t believe he’ll need a stint on the reserve/injured list.

“There’s none, and he’s doing well man, and just the fact we’re always going to just do the best we can for these guys, and then they can absolutely do their thing at full speed,” Quinn said. “It was awesome to have him back here at practice and, so he is definitely trending in the right space, but just not quite there just yet. But he really had a good week.”

Wide receiver Noah Brown, who signed late in the summer, will also be out for Sunday. Brown has been excellent for the Commanders, catching nine passes for 111 yards in his three games and been outstanding as a blocker.

“Yeah, and we’re bummed that Noah won’t make it in for this week because he’s added a lot to our team,” Quinn said of Brown. “We’ll miss Noah for sure, man. He not only is on the pass game, but the run game, the size, he’s really made his impact so far.”

Brown’s absence could mean more opportunities for Dyami Brown and Luke McCaffrey.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. ‘trending’ toward playing in Week 5

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. is “trending” toward playing in Week 5.

Running back Brian Robinson Jr. missed the first two practices of the week with a knee injury as the Washington Commanders prepared for their Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns. It led to some concern that the team’s leading rusher would miss Sunday’s game.

Zach Selby of commanders.com reported that Robinson was at Friday’s practice stretching with his teammates and had his helmet on. Head coach Dan Quinn met with reporters after practice and gave an update on Robinson.

“Brian is trending in the right way, and we’ll take it all the way to game day, but he’s doing great,” Quinn said.

How will Robinson be listed on Washington’s final injury report that comes Friday afternoon?

“Yeah, [VP of Football Communications] Sean [DeBarbieri] can follow up with you right when we’re done,” Quinn told reporters. 

Robinson himself seemed to indicate he was good to go for Sunday:

In more good news for the Commanders, running back Austin Ekeler officially cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday.

Commanders vs. Browns: 3 reasons for optimism

Here are three reasons for optimism as the Commanders host the Browns in Week 5.

The Washington Commanders host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday and look to extend, or at least hold on to, their status at the top of the NFC East. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has led this team to a 3-1 record and has displayed poise and confidence typically reserved for veteran players.

The Browns are, well, the Browns. They’re 1-3 this season with Deshaun Watson under center and hope to get star running back Nick Chubb back from a knee injury sooner than later.

While it seems the Commanders should have things well in hand, there’s always that little seed of doubt that creeps in, so let’s peek at three reasons for optimism heading into this Week 5 matchup.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Jayden Daniels is the quarterback

This may be pointing out the snake that bites you, but seriously, Jayden Daniels’ ability to lead this team and perform consistently at this level has been unmatched. He acclimated to this league like he knew what to expect and was prepared to make the necessary changes.

All of that work is paying off now, as he’s leading a team that hasn’t had a winning season in eight years. The Commanders need one more win to tie the number of wins they had in all of 2023, and it’s likely they will earn that against Cleveland on Sunday.

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Austin Ekeler returned to practice

After spending the previous seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, Austin Ekeler joined the Commanders as a free agent this year. A dynamic back, his addition was a huge improvement to the Commanders’ offense. Unfortunately, Ekeler suffered a concussion against the Cincinnati Bengals team in Week 3. He missed the outing against the Arizona Cardinals last week but returned to practice on Thursday.

Returning to practice is a good indication that Ekeler is ready to return, especially since he practiced in full. When he returns to the field, opposing teams will be hard-pressed to stop the Ekeler/Daniels combination.

Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Myles Garrett has an injury

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is by far the biggest threat the Browns’ defense has to offer. He is notorious for being everywhere on the field, causing chaos, sacking quarterbacks, and stopping the run. However, Garrett is hampered by an Achilles’ injury, which bodes well for the Commanders’ offense.

Now, no one wants to see a player get hurt, this is their livelihood. But if he doesn’t play, the Commanders’ offense will have more luck getting down the field. Even if he does play, the injury could slow him down enough to lessen his impact.

Commanders injury report: No Brian Robinson Jr., but Ekeler full participant

Two players out Thursday, including Brian Robinson. Four Browns miss practice.

On Thursday, the Washington Commanders continued preparing for the Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns without a key member of the offense.

Running back Brian Robinson Jr. missed his second consecutive practice with a knee injury. It’s not yet a cause for concern because Robinson could practice on Friday. Through four games this season, Robinson leads the Commanders with 307 rushing yards (4.7 YPC).

While Robinson missed practice, Austin Ekeler was back. Ekeler said on Wednesday his final test would be Thursday in pads. As a full participant, Ekeler appears ready for Sunday. He suffered a concussion in Week 3 and missed last week’s game.

Here’s the full Thursday injury report for the Commanders and the Browns:

Did not participate: RB Brian Robinson Jr. (knee), WR Noah Brown (groin)

Limited participants: S Percy Butler (groin), G Nick Allegretti (ankle), DE Clelin Ferrell (knee), S Tyler Owens (shin)

Full participant: CB Emmanuel Forbes (thumb), S Quan Martin (shoulder), LB Jordan Magee (knee), DL Efe Obada (tibia, fibula), QB Marcus Mariota (pectoral), RB Austin Ekeler (concussion), DT Jer’Zhan Newton (foot), LB Dominique Hampton (illness)

Here is Cleveland’s Wednesday injury report:

Did not participate: LB Jordan Hicks (ribs, elbow, triceps), DE Alex Wright (triceps), OT James Hudson (shoulder), TE David Njoku (ankle)

Limited participants: DE Myles Garrett (Achilles), OT Jack Conklin (hamstring), OT Jedrick Wills (knee), RB Nick Chubb (knee), G Michael Dunn (illness), RB Nyheim Hines (knee), , OT Dawand Jones (knee), , RB Pierre Strong (hamstring), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (illness), C Ethan Pocic (ankle)

Full participant: WR Jerry Jeudy (knee), LB Jeremiah Owosu-Koramoah, CB Greg Newsome (NIR/personal)

Commanders injury news: Brian Robinson Jr. misses 2nd straight practice

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. misses second straight practice, but there is good news on Austin Ekeler.

The Washington Commanders could be without one of their top two running backs for the second consecutive week. After Austin Ekeler suffered a concussion in the third quarter of the Monday night Week 3 win over the Bengals, he missed last week’s game in Arizona.

Now, Brian Robinson Jr., who already has two 100-yard games this season, missed Thursday’s practice with a knee injury. Robinson also missed Wednesday’s practice. The Commanders host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

In positive news, Ekeler practiced for the second straight day, but this time, he was a full participant after clearing the concussion protocol. Barring any setbacks, Ekeler will play on Sunday.

Robinson has 307 rushing yards through four games, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt, with three touchdowns.

Ekeler has rushed for 83 yards on 13 attempts, with one touchdown. He has caught nine passes for 121 yards. The veteran running back has also made a big impact as a kick returner.

If Robinson can’t go on Sunday, Jeremy McNichols would likely be the next man up again. Last week, McNichols carried the ball eight times for 68 yards and two touchdowns in Ekeler’s absence.

 

Commanders injury report: Several players did not practice

A long injury list for the Commanders and Browns to kick off the week.

The first injury report of the week is out for Sunday’s game between the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Browns, and it’s lengthy.

Before we jump into the complete injury report, there was some positive news for Washington Wednesday, as running back Austin Ekeler returned to practice on a limited basis. Ekeler told reporters afterward that he had to clear one more hurdle before he’s cleared for a Week 5 return.

Now, for the injury report: We told you it was a long one — for both teams:

Did not participate: G Nick Allegretti (ankle), TE Zach Ertz (NIR/rest), DE Clelin Ferrell (knee), LB Dominique Hampton (illness), S Tyler Owens (shin), RB Brian Robinson Jr. (knee)

Limited participants: WR Noah Brown (groin), S Percy Butler (groin), RB Austin Ekeler (concussion), DT Jer’Zhan Newton (foot)

Full participant: CB Emmanuel Forbes (thumb), S Quan Martin (shoulder), LB Jordan Magee (knee), DL Efe Obada (tibia, fibula), QB Marcus Mariota (pectoral)

Here is Cleveland’s Wednesday injury report:

Did not participate: OT Jack Conklin (hamstring), DE Myles Garrett (Achilles), LB Jordan Hicks (ribs, elbow, triceps), CB Greg Newsome (NIR/personal), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (illness), C Ethan Pocic (ankle), OT Jedrick Wills (knee), DE Alex Wright (triceps)

Limited participants: RB Nick Chubb (knee), G Michael Dunn (illness), RB Nyheim Hines (knee), OT James Hudson (shoulder), OT Dawand Jones (knee), TE David Njoku (ankle), RB Pierre Strong (hamstring)

Full participant: CB Martin Emerson (concussion protocol), WR Jerry Jeudy (knee), LB Jeremiah Owosu-Koramoah