NFL Rumors: Los Angeles Chargers Running Back Austin Ekeler Expected Back for Week 6

The Los Angeles Chargers could return from their Week 5 bye with the centrepiece of their offense back in action. Speaking on a live stream, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler declared he expects to be back on the field for his team's Week 6 Monday Night Football showdown with the Dallas Cowboys.

#Chargers An Austin Ekeler update from his stream last night: “We have a long time between now and Monday night football vs the Cowboys, so expecting to be back by then for sure.” pic.twitter.com/CsAfEiLcri
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) October 4, 2023

Ekeler has been out since the Chargers' Week 1 34-36 loss to the Miami Dolphins due to an ankle injury. He was arguably the best Charger on the field while available, totalling 164 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on only 20 touches.

Ekeler is the heart of the Chargers offense and one of the best backs in the league, leading the league in total touchdowns in each of the past two seasons and the Chargers in yards from scrimmage in three of the past four seasons.

Ekeler is equally accomplished as a runner and a receiver: his 107 receptions last year were a franchise record at any position. That reliability has arguably made quarterback Justin Herbert overreliant on Ekeler: Herbert averaged a mere 6.4 air yards per pass attempt in 2022, the least of any 17-game starter. As a result, the Chargers scored 23.0 points per game, their worst mark under Herbert.

To the Chargers' credit, they're a much-improved offense this season, scoring 27.5 points per game with only two total turnovers through four weeks. So long as Ekeler returns as a complement instead of the focal point of the passing attack, he should be a potent addition.