Austin Ekeler Jun 5, 2024; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) hands the ball off to Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (30) a ball during an OTA workout at Commanders Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Austin Ekeler exited the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason. After a strong few years in LA, Ekeler now finds himself on the East Coast. He’ll suit up for the Washington Commanders this season after the team signed him to a free-agent deal this offseason.

Ekeler found success in LA running the ball, but the former Chargers star explained why he decided to leave the team. Ultimately, it wasn’t what he wanted to do but what they wanted to get out of their team.

The former Charger running back joined Kay Adams on Up & Adams this week and discussed his decision to leave the team this past offseason.

“I think you can kinda see how they’ve been building the team this offseason. … They want a guy they can hand the ball off to 300 times a year,” Ekeler said. “And look, I haven’t had the capacity to do that.”

Ekeler said there was “no harm, no foul” with the team or new head coach Jim Harbaugh after the decision. Ekeler just wanted to go somewhere that he thought he could get the best out of himself.

[Up & Adams]

About Chris Novak

Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022