Commanders reportedly expected to sign 4,000-yard RB to NFL roster

Commanders reportedly expected to sign 4,000-yard RB to NFL roster originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Washington Commanders are 1-2 to begin the 2026 NFL season after securing a big upset win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3.

In the win for the Commanders, the production from their backfield was incredibly lackluster. No player had more than 36 rushing yards, and there were a lot of things not to like about the rushing attack besides one 19-yard run from Rachaad White.

So, with some questions about the RB room, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting the Commanders are expected to sign free agent running back Austin Ekeler to return to Washington and bolster the RB room.

Commanders reportedly signing Austin Ekeler

“Reunion: The Commanders are expected to sign FA RB Austin Ekeler to their 53-man roster pending physical, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo,” Rapoport reports.

After recovering from an Achilles tear, Ekeler is reportedly coming back to the Commanders. He recently visited with the Carolina Panthers, but instead is electing to return to a familiar franchise.

After Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran the ball 19 times for 36 yards, and White ran it eight times for 35 yards in the Week 3 win over Seattle, it’s clear the Commanders need some extra help.

MORE: Marcus Mariota stuns Seahawks as Commanders escape an 0-3 start

On the season, Croskey-Merritt has 142 rushing yards on 47 attempts, and White has 100 yards on 22 attempts. Adding more help to this backfield makes a lot of sense.

Ekeler played in just two games last season, running for 43 yards on 14 attempts and catching five of seven targets for 38 yards. In his NFL career, however, he has 4,765 rushing yards and 4,288 receiving yards as one of the better dual-threat RBs recently.

While Ekeler isn’t the same player he was in his prime, he should be more than capable of giving the Commanders some stability in the backfield, especially with the questionable play from Croskey-Merritt and White so far.

More NFL news:

• Trevor Lawrence gives hilarious reason for kneeling at the 1-yard line in bizarre Jaguars sequence
• Sean Payton reveals why he’s ‘uncomfortable’ with Broncos despite Week 3 win
• Matthew Stafford makes wrong kind of NFL history with pick-six vs. Broncos
• Deebo Samuel breaks bizarre NFL record with hook-and-ladder TD
• Travis Hunter finally gets his interception as Jaguars crush Patriots