AUSTIN EKELER NEWS

Fantasy football waiver wire for Week 5: Pick up Joshua Kelley and D’Ernest Johnson — just in case you need replacements for Austin Ekeler and Nick Chubb The injury bug bit a few more players in Week 4. Here's who to pick up on the fantasy football waiver wire in Week 5.

OCTOBER 5, 2020 • BALTIMORESUN.COM

Fantasy football waiver wire for Week 5: Pick up Joshua Kelley and D’Ernest Johnson — just in case you need replacements for Austin Ekeler and Nick Chubb The injury bug bit a few more players in Week 4. Here's who to pick up on the fantasy football waiver wire in Week 5.

OCTOBER 5, 2020 • SUN-SENTINEL.COM

Likely for injured reserve Ekeler is expected to land on IR after suffering a "serious" hamstring injury during Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Impact Rapoport notes that the Chargers won't finalize any decisions until the full results of Ekeler's medical evaluation have been revealed, but at this point it would be surprising to see the do-it-all running back avoid a multi-game absence. Though Ekeler may need to spend more than the three-week minimum on IR, it looks like he's expected to make a return later during the regular season. In the meantime, Los Angeles will roll with Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson out of the backfield, while Darius Bradwell is a likely candidate to be promoted from the practice squad.

OCTOBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

NFL Today, Week 4

NFL Today, Week 4

OCTOBER 5, 2020 • Associated Press

Best Fantasy Week 5 Waiver Pickups: Injuries to Nick Chubb, Kenyan Drake, Austin Ekeler open doors for handcuff RBs Big injuries to Nick Chubb, Austin Ekeler, and Kenyan Drake have a big impact on the top Week 5 fantasy waiver pickups and free agent adds....

OCTOBER 5, 2020 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler suffers hamstring injury in loss Chargers running back Austin Ekeler was carted off the field after sustaining a hamstring injury in the first half of Sunday's loss to the B...

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • LATIMES.COM

Browns’ Nick Chubb, Chargers’ Austin Ekeler top injury list Two of the NFL’s top running backs this season are facing uncertain futures after being forced to leave games early with injuries on Sunday.

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM

Browns' Nick Chubb, Chargers' Austin Ekeler top injury list

Two of the NFL’s top running backs this season are facing uncertain futures after being forced to leave games early with injuries on Sunday

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • Associated Press

In line for multi-game absence Ekeler is slated to miss multiple weeks due to the hamstring injury and hyperextended knee that he suffered during Sunday's 38-31 defeat at Tampa Bay, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports...

Impact In the wake of a first-quarter hit, Ekeler was in significant pain and couldn't put any weight on his left leg in his attempts to get off the field. He required a cart to get to the locker room and didn't make another appearance, and after the game he needed crutches and was wearing a brace on the leg. Looking ahead, the Chargers play five more games before a Week 10 bye, so there isn't a respite for Ekeler in the immediate future. In the meantime, the team will need to make due with Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson out of the backfield.

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with hamstring injury When asked about the hamstring injury Ekeler suffered in Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers, coach Anthony Lynn replied "I'm not sure how bad it is, but it looked pretty bad," Gilbert...

Impact It's too soon to know how much, if any, further game action Ekeler might miss, but his status for next Monday's contest against the Saints will obviously need to be monitored closely, based on Lynn's post-game comments. Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson are next up for the Chargers' carries if Ekeler is limited or out in Week 5.

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Injury-shortened day in loss Ekeler rushed twice for 12 yards and brought in his one target for two yards in the Chargers' 38-31 loss to the Buccaneers before exiting for good in the first quarter due to a ham...

Impact The versatile veteran had gotten off to a solid start on the ground before being felled by his left hamstring injury. Given the delicate and unpredictable nature of soft-tissue injuries, Ekeler's availability for a Week 5 Monday night road matchup against the Saints likely will be up in the air for a significant portion of the upcoming week.

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Brady throws for 5 TDs, Bucs rally to beat Chargers 38-31

Tom Brady threw for 369 yards and five touchdowns, helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rally from a 17-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 38-31 for their third straight vi...

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • Associated Press

Austin Ekeler Injury Update Boosts Joshua Kelley Fantasy Outlook Austin Ekeler went down with what looked to be a serious injury in the Los Angeles Chargers' Week 4 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. H...

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • FANDUEL.COM

Picks up hamstring injury Ekeler is questionable to return to Sunday's game in Tampa Bay due to a hamstring injury.

Impact Considering Ekeler couldn't put any weight on his left leg, it's somewhat of a surprise that he may be able to reenter the Chargers' Week 4 contest. Having said that, however long Ekeler is sidelined, some combination of Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson will cover for him out of the backfield.

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Needs cart to get off field Ekeler (leg) was carted off the field during Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Impact Ekeler was in significant pain and was unable to put any weight on his left leg after taking a first-quarter hit along the Chargers' sideline. The training staff looked at his left foot before taking him to the locker room. In Ekeler's stead, L.A. will count on Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson to man the backfield.

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

The Latest: Wentz has early interception against 49ers

Carson Wentz has thrown his NFL-worst seventh interception of the season for the Philadelphia Eagles

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • Associated Press

When Buccaneers near the goal line, Brady looks for Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans is off to another nice start

OCTOBER 1, 2020 • Associated Press

Austin Ekeler, Joey Bosa Lead Talented Chargers into Tampa in Week Four Scouting Report: Los Angeles may be starting a rookie at quarterback on Sunday but they also have one of the NFL's best pass-catching backs...

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Deja vu: Chargers off to 1-2 start for 3rd straight year

If it feels as if Anthony Lynn and the Los Angeles Chargers are having an awful case of déjà vu, you can’t blame them

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 • Associated Press

Totals 139 yards in loss Ekeler carried the ball 12 times for 59 yards and also caught all 11 of his targets for 80 yards in Sunday's 21-16 loss to the Panthers. He also accounted for a touchdown.

Impact It should have been an even better day for Ekeler, but the running back botched a hook-and-ladder attempt which would have resulted in a walk-in, game-winning touchdown. After a Week 1 which saw the star back record just one target, the Chargers have made a concerted effort to include Ekeler in the passing game with 15 targets over the past two weeks. Most of that workload came Sunday with the team trailing from the jump, but the 11 targets weren't simply off of checkdowns or dump-offs, but rather clearly designed screen plays and flare routes. It's fairly clear Ekeler will get the majority of the workload in the event the team is trailing, something that wasn't necessarily confirmed throughout the first two games with Joshua Kelley acting in tandem with Ekeler to begin the season. It might be a bit tougher to pile up the yards next week when the Chargers travel to face a Buccaneers defense that just held Melvin Gordon to under 3.2 yards per touch.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Panthers beat Chargers 21-16 for Rhule's first NFL victory

Carolina’s defense forced three Los Angeles turnovers, Joey Slye kicked five field goals and the Panthers beat the Chargers 21-16, giving coach Matt Rhule his first NFL victory

SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • Associated Press

Herbert gets full week of practice as Chargers host Panthers

Justin Herbert has had an entire week instead of just a couple minutes to prepare for his second NFL start

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • Associated Press

Justin Herbert to start Week 3, which is great news for Austin Ekeler Justin Herbert starting means it'll be a big fantasy day for Austin Ekeler. With Tyrod Taylor out for a while with a punctured lung, that me...

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • FANSIDED.COM

Chargers' Kelley, Eagles' Sanders among best bets to score

It’s Week 3 of the fantasy football season, and these are the top five best bets to score at the running back and wide receiver positions

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • Associated Press

Chargers' Lynn stands behind Taylor despite Herbert's debut

Anthony Lynn did a good job throughout the offseason and training camp of installing Tyrod Taylor as the Los Angeles Chargers' starting quarterback even after Justin Herbert was ta...

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 • Associated Press