New Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler is tasked with making quarterback Jayden Daniels’ transition to the NFL, and a recent miscommunication on a read during practice followed by a conversation between the two has Ekeler believing in his new quarterback, comparing Daniels to Phillip Rivers and Justin Herbert from Ekeler’s days with the Los Angles Chargers. He explained the takeaway on the All Facts No Brakes podcast with Keyshawn Johnson.
“What I’ve seen so far literally even yesterday coming off the field I was running a man beater choice route out of the backfield, and you know we both saw it kind of a different way,” Austin Ekeler said on All Facts No Brakes. “And he calls me over, ‘hey Austin come over here.’ I’m like ‘yes!’ That is exactly what I wnt to hear from my quarterback. Right now because I remember being with Philip, I remember being with Justin after he got going a few years, where it’s like we have that conversation, for him to be doing it already in week three, like that’s what I want to see from you as a quarterback.”
Throughout Ekeler’s career, he has been known to be a valuable check-down option for Rivers and Herbert with the Chargers. He struggled with injuries last year, but should be a valuable veteran voice next to Jayden Daniels in the backfield for the Commanders this season. It is certainly encouraging for him to rave about Daniels in this manner.
Austin Ekeler on the Commanders surrounding Jayden Daniels with veterans
The Commanders brought in a number of veterans on both sides of the ball, with Ekeler being one of them, along with center Tyler Biadasz and tight end Zach Ertz. Ekeler anticipates that helping Daniels in his rookie year.
“We got a lot of veterans around him, you know we brought in a veteran center (Biadasz) from Dallas, we got me, we got Zach Ertz, we got guys around him that know what they’re doing,” Ekeler said on All Facts No Brakes. “We got you know just running a few o-linemen actually, a few receivers too. So it’s like we’re a situation where you got veterans around this young guy. Like we are putting him in a position where hey, you can immerse yourself into this position, this leadership role as much as you want, and it kind of comes down to what your personality is like.”
There was much debate regarding who the Commanders should select with the No. 2 pick, and they eventually went with Daniels over Drake Maye, who was selected with the No. 3 pick by the New England Patriots. It will be intriguing to see how Daniels works with the Commanders surrounded by experienced players.
