Commanders placed Ekeler on IR and released former first-year Forbes

The Washington Commanders placed running back Austin Ekeler on injured reserve and continued their purge of past failed first-round picks by releasing cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr.

Ekeler suffered a concussion while returning a kickoff in the final seconds of a 34-26 loss to Dallas last week and will now be out for at least four weeks.

Washington (7-5) plays Tennessee (3-8) on Sunday but has a bye on Dec. 8, so Ekeler may only miss three games if he is able to return. After the game, Ekeler lay motionless on the ground before being helped up and walking toward the sideline in a daze.

Ekeler also missed a Week 4 game at Arizona due to a concussion. He leads Washington’s running backs with 701 yards from scrimmage – he ran for 355 yards and received for another 346 yards. Washington added running back Chris Rodriquez Jr. to the roster earlier this week to back up Brian Robinson Jr. and Jeremy McNichols.

Forbes was the 16th pick in the 2023 draft and was selected ahead of corners like New England’s Christian Gonzalez and Pittsburgh’s Joey Porter Jr. Washington’s former front office and coaching staff liked that Forbes was adept at taking the ball away. In his career at Mississippi State, he intercepted 14 passes and set a Division I record with six passes returned.

But Forbes started just seven games in two seasons and played just six games with one start in 2024. He was on the bench both years, but also suffered from various injuries that kept him out of action. Should Forbes not claim waivers, he would count $9.1 million against the salary cap in 2025.

He is the third first-round pick from the previous regime, with whom Washington’s new front office, led by general manager Adam Peters, parted ways this year. The Commanders traded 2022 first-round pick, receiver Jahan Dotson, to Philadelphia in August. On October 22, they announced 2021 first-round pick, linebacker Jamin Davis.

The organization traded first-round picks from 2019 and 2020 — defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat — at last season’s trade deadline.

Washington also signed kicker Zane Gonzalez from the practice squad. The Commanders placed kicker Austin Seibert on injured reserve earlier this week with a groin injury.