RB Austin Ekeler Set to Stay With the Chargers After Getting $2 Million in Incentives

Austin Ekeler with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018.
Austin Ekeler with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018. Photo by Jevone Moore/CSM/Shutterstock (9787131p)

Running back Austin Ekeler will play with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 despite requesting a trade earlier in the offseason. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, this is a result of the Chargers agreeing to add $2 million in incentives to Ekeler’s contract.

Ekeler has a $6.25 million base salary for the upcoming season, according to the four-year, $24.5 million extension he signed in 2020. He will become a free agent in 2024.

Austin Ekeler put together an impressive campaign in 2022, rushing for 915 yards and 13 touchdowns while also adding 107 catches for 722 yards and five TDs. His 18 combined touchdowns led the league.

After the season ended, Ekeler hoped he would get a contract extension from the Chargers, but the franchise opted not to offer him one. As a result, the 28-year-old player made a trade request in hopes of getting a new deal somewhere else but discovered there was not a lot of interest out there. This is what likely motivated Ekeler to work out something with the Chargers for 2023 before reassessing his options next off-season.

Austin Ekeler joined the Chargers in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. He played a total of 89 games with the franchise, rushing for 3,727 yards and 34 TDs. He also has 389 career catches for 3,448 yards and 29 touchdowns.

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