Austin Ekeler is no stranger to injuries, missing six games in 2020, battling a hamstring issue early this year, and then missing practice at the end of this week due to hip soreness. But the star running back is definitely playing on Sunday against the Patriots. Ekeler confirmed as much to ESPN late Saturday, also hinting on Instagram that he will be in the lineup.
Ekeler was listed as questionable on the Chargers‘ official injury report after sitting out practice Friday, but he’s played through injuries before. All signs point to the fifth-year veteran handling a full workload against New England, with Larry Rountree III, Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley serving as backfield relief. That’s perhaps doubly true considering Ekeler had such a light role in the Chargers’ last game, a 34-6 loss to Baltimore that saw him total just 10 touches.
Ekeler has been heavily involved in Los Angeles’ offense, as has been the case since his emergence as RB1. Against the Patriots, he’ll face the NFL‘s No. 11-ranked run defense, with the Chargers looking to improve to 5-2.
