Dawgs By Nature
Austin Ekeler’s history indicates he could be a problem, Jeremy McNichols has experience
As very few would have predicted, the Cleveland Browns season could be finished before we get to the second week of October. Sitting at 1-3, the Browns have more than just Jayden Daniels to worry about in Week 5 against the Washington Commanders.
There is a lot to know about Week 5’s matchup in our nation’s capital including that the final injury report has some huge names on it. For Washington, none is bigger than RB Brian Robinson who we had listed as one of three Commanders that could wreck Cleveland’s defense.
Despite missing practice all week, Robinson is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Even if Robinson is out, the Browns have some changes they need to make on both sides of the ball to win in Week 5.
Part of that is because the Commanders have veteran RB Austin Ekeler ready to step in if Robinson is out. Ekeler is in his first season in Washington after seven with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers.
While Ekeler has only 13 carries and nine receptions so far in 2024, his career shows a dynamic running back who can make plays in the run and pass games. In his last five seasons with the Chargers, Ekeler had over 50 receptions every year including 107 in 2022. Never topping 1,000 yards rushing, mostly due to limited use (career-high is 206 carries in a season), Ekeler has averaged 4.5 yards per carry in his career.
Behind Ekeler, veteran Jeremy McNichols is far less accomplished than Ekeler but is in his seventh season in the league and is not likely to make mistakes.
Usually, a team’s second or third-string running back is a rookie or second-year player prone to missing blitzes, dropping passes or running the wrong route due to their inexperience. Washington won’t have that problem in Week 5 if Robinson is out.
