Washington's command running back Austin Ekeler said he is dealing with lingering symptoms, including memory loss, from a concussion he suffered Nov. 24.
Ekeler, 29, told 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., that he is “definitely going through it” as he deals with neck pain and brain “fog.”
Most concerning is that his memory after the hit is patchy at best.
“I didn't even remember how I got off the field.” Ekeler said during his weekly radio appearance on Tuesday. “All I remember is coming here…As long as I can remember, I had short-term memory loss. My wife was sitting in the room and I was in the back room being evaluated by medical staff. I remember…
“That's when I started remembering things and all of a sudden I was like, OK, I'm going to get into the back of the ambulance to go get a CT scan…”
The injury occurred during a kick return during the Commanders' 34-26 loss to the Cowboys a few days before Thanksgiving. Ekeler was then placed on wounded reserve.
The eighth-year returnee said he experienced similar memory loss after sustaining a concussion during a road game against the Bengals in early 2024.
Ekeler suffered a concussion in Week 3 at Cincinnati, forcing him to miss one game. At the time, this was the third head injury in his career, with the previous two occurring in 2018 and 2021.
Ekeler has not yet passed the concussion protocol as he suffered his fourth concussion in Week 12, but he told the radio station that he feels he is “on target.”
Commanders coach Dan Quinn assured reporters last week that his star player would not be rushed back onto the field.
“The protocols are there and they are strictly in place for reasons of protecting the players and keeping them safe,” Quinn said. “So, on a case-by-case basis, we will follow that to the end.
Considering the move to injured reserve, the 8-5 coach will be without Ekeler for at least four games as he looks to make the playoffs late in the season.
In his first year in Washington, Ekeler served on a running back committee that also included Brian Robinson Jr.
Before the head injury, Ekeler appeared in 11 games, rushing for 355 yards and receiving for 346 yards. He also scored four touchdowns on the year.
With Ekeler out in Week 14, Robinson Jr. got a ton of carries as the managers defeated the 3-9 Titans, 42-19.
The managers have their sights firmly set on a playoff spot, and will close out the 2024 season with matches against the Saints, Eagles, Falcons and Cowboys.
