Commanders RB Ekeler suffers suspected Achilles tear, tests pending

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler suffered a noncontact injury to his right Achilles tendon late in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s game at Lambeau Field and was carted to the locker room, leaving the field in visible pain as the Commanders fell 27-18 to the Green Bay Packers. The team initially ruled Ekeler out of the contest with an Achilles issue, and club officials say further testing is scheduled to determine the full extent of the damage.

Ekeler, 30, went down while running a route midway through the fourth quarter after delivering a chip block and attempting to cut upfield. He grabbed at his lower right leg as he fell to the turf, was helped off without putting weight on the leg and was driven to the locker room. Team staff and medical observers on social media immediately suspected a ruptured Achilles; a person with knowledge of Ekeler’s status later said the club believes he tore the tendon but is awaiting confirmation from Friday testing.

The injury removes Washington’s most experienced back from the lineup at a critical early point in the season. Ekeler, in his second year with the Commanders after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers,...