Commanders’ Running Back Describes Memory Loss After 2 Concussions This Season

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 14: Austin Ekeler #30 of the Washington Commanders gets a first down against Reed Blankenship #32, Zack Baun #53 and C.J. Gardner-Johnson #8 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 14, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler said he suffered memory loss from a concussion he sustained against the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 24.

The Commanders placed Ekeler on injured reserve six days later.

“I didn’t even remember how I got off the field,” he said Dec. 2 on “Grant & Danny” on Washington talk radio station 106.7 The Fan.

“All I remember was my wife was sitting in the room and I was getting evaluated by our medical staff in the back room. That’s when I started to remember things, and then I was getting helped up and going and getting in the back of the ambulance to go get a CT scan. So I was definitely concussed and seeing some major symptoms there.”

Ekeler said it was the second time he had experienced memory loss this season; he also sustained a concussion against the Bengals on Sept. 23. He said he experienced a similar memory loss after that hit, adding that he did not remember how he got off the field then either.

Ekeler also said he was dealing with some neck pain from the current injury. Both the neck pain and the fact that it was his second concussion factored into the decision to place him on injured reserve.

Ekeler said he has not passed the NFL’s concussion protocol, but he is close to being symptom-free and passing the medical tests. He noted that as part of his recovery, he is working with the Commanders’ training staff on mobility, memory, eye tracking, and other work. He is not part of the game plan so he is not on the field with the team during practice time, and his days are consumed by recovery, but he credited the staff for their hard work.

Teams give injured players options for attending games. Ekeler said he watched the Commanders’ win over the Tennessee Titans from home to avoid sensory overload from the stadium noise. He said he would try to attend the next home game, either in the injured players’ box or on the sideline with the team.

Ekeler said he’s “week to week” and trying to learn more about his condition while he works his way back. “It’s my second concussion, am I more susceptible for a third one now that I’ve had two and the severity of mine? So it’s a learning process for me, because I’ve never had anything like this this bad, and twice in the same year.”

Since he was placed on injured reserve, Ekeler must miss at least four games. With the Commanders on a bye this week, the earliest he will be able to return would be Washington’s rematch with the Cowboys in Week 18.

Ekeler was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017. As the lead back for Los Angeles in 2021, he led the league in total touchdowns, scoring 12 rushing touchdowns to go with 911 rushing yards. He caught eight more touchdowns to go with 647 yards through the air for a total of 1,558 scrimmage yards and 20 total touchdowns.

He repeated as NFL touchdown leader in 2022 with 915 rushing yards and 13 TDs, plus 722 receiving yards and five touchdowns, for 1,637 total yards and 18 TDs. He signed with the Commanders in 2024. So far this season, he has rushed for 355 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 346 receiving yards.