After defeating the Giants, 21-6, in Week 1, the Washington Commanders have just four days to prepare for a tough matchup vs. Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football.
The main concern on the short turnaround? RB Austin Ekeler has been limited in practice to start the week, dealing with a shoulder injury.
The Commanders RB1's injury status leaves the team’s backfield up in the air, with rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt potentially in line for more touches if Ekeler cannot play on the short week.
Ekeler was a limited participant in practice on both Monday (hypothetical report) and Tuesday. While the shoulder injury didn’t hold him back in Week 1, he only has three days to get in shape for Thursday Night Football.
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Will Commanders RB Austin Ekeler Play in Week 2?
Despite being a limited participant in practice, Ekeler is currently expected to play in Week 2, unless we hear differently leading up to the game.
The 30-year-old took a back seat in Week 1, as he had just 6 carries for 26 yards in a game the Commanders controlled for the entirety. His 4.3 yards per carry were the lowest on the team, though he did haul in 3 receptions for 31 yards.
Ekeler said on 106.7 The Fan that the team will use "all of (the Commanders RB's]" this year. And they did exactly that in Week 1: Croskey-Merritt led the team with 12 snaps, followed by Ekeler (9), and Jeremy McNichols (8). Chris Roriguez was a healthy scratch.
It’s worth noting that Ekeler has missed eight games in the last two seasons. He only played in 12 games last season which marked his first with the Commanders.
An early injury designation doesn’t bode well for his 2025 campaign, though it creates even more intrigue around the rookie Croskey-Merritt.
Austin Ekeler: Fantasy Football Outlook
Even though Ekeler was tied for the second-most receptions on the team, his Week 2 status is far from ideal. Micah Parsons wreaked havoc for the Packers in a limited number of snaps last week. Ultimately, Green Bay held Detroit to just 46 rushing yards on 22 attempts.
Something to monitor is RB Jahmyr Gibbs, who had 10 receptions against Green Bay. Knowing Ekeler’s abilities as a pass-catching back, that may be his only way to make an impact against the Packers.
Ultimately, Jacory Croskey-Merritt will look to pick up where he left off in Week 1. The 24-year-old shredded his way through the New York Giants' defense in his first regular-season game.
While QB Jayden Daniels had one more rushing attempt than Croskey-Merritt, the 5’11’’, 208-pound RB led the team in rushing yards (82) and yards per carry (8.2). He capped his day off with a 42-yard rush in the fourth quarter.
Austin Ekeler Projections vs. Packers
Ekeler heads into Thursday night with a projected total of 22.5 rushing yards on PrizePicks NFL game, which bodes well for his injury status. If he was unlikely to play, he likely would not receive an injury designation here.
The nine-year veteran reached that total last week, though he did so without an injury designation against a below-average defense. As it stands, he is also projected for 20.5 receiving yards and 3.5 targets.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Projections vs. Packers
Seeing what Croskey-Merritt did in Week 1, it’s hard not to be intrigued by his 41.5 rushing yard projection on PrizePicks NFL game.
While the Packers didn’t allow any Lions player to finish with more than 25 rushing yards, as they trailed by two touchdowns after the first half, Croskey-Merritt blew past every projection in Week 1, adding a touchdown to boot.
Knowing Ekeler’s injury status, and Croskey Merritt leading the RB room in snaps in Week 1, it’s no secret that Croskey-Merritt will once again be a big part of this Commanders run game.
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