Austin Ekeler News

Eckler endured to provoke for the Chargers in 2018, completing with simply over 1,000 scrimmage yards regardless of dropping two video games past due within the season. He will get typecast as a scatback because of his measurement, however Eckler does greater than end up himself at the floor — he has posted a minimum of 5.2 ypc in either one of his NFL campaigns, with low facilities of gravity. And because of robust foot pressure via touch. Ekeler additionally has plus elusiveness and steadiness, permitting him to hunt additional yards in visitors, despite the fact that he does now not have breakaway pace. His 3.8 yards in line with elevate touch used to be moment within the league after Nick Chubb’s 4.3. Ekeler isn’t a herbal receiver on the subject of working routes, however he has cushy fingers and with some ability any individual would see a large number of objectives from Phillip Rivers. Ekeler is ranked No. 2 at the back of Melvin Gordon, however with Gordon having simplest performed 16 video games as soon as in his profession, likelihood is that excellent that Ekeler will in finding himself within the beginning position a minimum of two times in 2019. Those constraints stepped forward a transfer. Further when Gordon made up our minds to drop out of coaching camp in hopes of leveraging in negotiations for a freelance extension. As a consequence, Ekeler and Justin Jackson are dealing with first-team reps all over the early a part of coaching camp.

If Philip River likes something, it’s the undersized receiving again. Over the decade, gamers comparable to Darren Sproles and Danny Woodhead have constructed their careers round annoyed linebackers to influence the wheel routes and supply a security blanket for quarterbacks. It used to be Eckler’s flip to fill that position closing yr, and whilst it took a while to earn Rivers ‘consider, through Week 10 he used to be an integral a part of the Chargers’ assault, 12 of 13 for 141 yards and two. Caught the objectives. A landing shortened his productive run within the first four-game duration with a damaged finger. At the age of 5-10, 200, Ekeler isn’t taking Melvin Gordon within the opening spherical, however he runs with some unexpected energy for his measurement and will give a contribution just a little at the floor, despite the fact that his bread and Butter will all the time be there to catch passes and omit the defenders in area. The crew drafted Justin Jackson within the 7th spherical to supply additional intensity within the backfield, however his position must simplest build up if Ekeler stays wholesome.

An unreleased rookie out of Division II Western State, the 195-pound Eckler unusually survived a roster cutdown in early September, slotting at the back of Melvin Gordon and Brandon Oliver at the initial intensity chart. The Chargers can nonetheless upload extra skill to the backfield, but when now not, Eckler would possibly get a couple of touches in the beginning of the season.