Running back Austin Ekeler will be sidelined for the second straight game when the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Ekeler didn’t practice at all this week due to an ankle injury and was ruled out on Friday.
He also missed last week’s 27-24 overtime road loss to the Tennessee Titans. The Chargers had just 61 rushing yards against the Titans as fill-in starter Joshua Kelley had 39 yards on 13 carries.
Ekeler injured the ankle in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins. He rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown and added four catches for 47 yards in the 36-34 loss.
Ekeler, 28, joined the Chargers in 2017 and has 3,844 yards and 35 touchdowns on the ground as well as 393 receptions for 3,495 yards and 29 scores. He has scored 39 touchdowns (26 rushing, 13 receiving) since the start of the 2021 season.
Veteran linebacker Eric Hendricks (hamstring) also will miss his second straight game, as well as his return to Minnesota. Kendricks starred on the Vikings’ defense for the past eight seasons.
Star pass rusher Joey Bosa (hamstring) was a limited practice participant on Friday and is listed as questionable. Linebackers Daiyan Henley (hamstring) and Chris Rumph II (hamstring) and defensive lineman Christopher Hinton (back) also are questionable.
For the Vikings, linebacker Marcus Davenport (ankle) will miss his second straight game since getting injured in the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Center Garrett Bradbury (back) is listed as questionable. He also was injured in the opener and sat out Week 2’s 34-28 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
–Field Level Media