Commanders place Austin Ekeler on IR, launch 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes

The Washington Commanders positioned operating again Austin Ekeler on injured reserve because of a concussion Saturday. He will miss no less than 4 weeks, beginning with the Commanders’ recreation in opposition to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Ekeler suffered a concussion within the closing minute of a Week 12 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and was taken to the hospital for additional analysis. The 29-year-old was returning a kickoff with 9 seconds left when he was tackled by Dallas linebackers Damone Clark and Nick Vigil. He remained on the bottom after the deal with for a number of minutes and was finally carried off the sector with the assistance of the teaching workers.

In his first season with the Commanders, Ekeler had 74 carries for 355 yards and 4 touchdowns. The workforce’s prime operating again, Brian Robinson Jr., is anticipated to play Sunday after leaving the sport in opposition to Dallas with an ankle harm. Backups Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. may also be accessible.

The Commanders additionally launched 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes on Saturday, reducing ties with one other excessive draft choose from the earlier regime.

All of earlier coach Ron Rivera’s first-round gamers – together with edge rusher Chase Young in 2020, linebacker Jamin Davis in ’21 and large receiver Jahan Dotson in ’22 – are gone. Forbes by no means confirmed progress beneath the brand new workers led by coach Dan Quinn and was a wholesome scratch twice this season and didn’t play in two different video games throughout which the 23-year-old was in uniform.

It’s unclear whether or not Forbes’ launch means something concerning the standing of cornerback Marshon Lattimore, the Commanders’ commerce deadline choose in early November who has but to play for them because of a hamstring harm. Lattimore was listed as uncertain for Sunday.

Washington (7-5) has misplaced three straight video games to fall from first place within the NFC East to the convention’s closing wild card spot. The most up-to-date loss, final weekend in opposition to division rival Dallas, got here when Austin Seibert missed his second further level of the sport, which might have tied the sport with 21 seconds left.

Seibert went on IR earlier within the week with a groin harm that Quinn mentioned the kicker suffered Monday. They elevated kicker Zane Gonzalez and defensive deal with Carl Davis from the observe squad in preparation to face the Titans (3-8).

As accidents have piled up because the Commanders await their late bye week, Forbes’ choose has been an afterthought since Rivera’s entrance workplace chosen the 166-pound Mississippi State defensive finish with the sixteenth select of Christian Gonzalez and others. Gonzalez was drafted later, by New England, and began 16 video games for the Patriots.

Forbes was benched final season by Rivera, who was in cost when Washington chosen Davis forward of offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw in ’21 and was traded to take Dotson the next yr as a substitute of security Kyle Hamilton or receiver Chris Olave. Forbes has two interceptions and 12 passes defensed in 20 video games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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