Austin Ekeler reveals frightening impact of his second concussion this season
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler has opened up about the shocking impact of the concussion he suffered during his team’s recent loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Ekeler was returning the kickoff late in the fourth quarter when he was hit by Dallas’ Damone Clark in the head – before also hitting his head hard on the ground as he hit the ground.
The 29-year-old lay motionless on the ground as his teammates shouted for medics to allow them to enter the field. Finally, Ekeler walked off the field, looking dizzy.
Now, in conversation with 106.7 The Fan in DC about his recovery, Ekeler has spoken out about the terrifying impact of the concussion.
‘I think it’s important to diagnose the magnitude of the situation. I didn’t even know how I got off the field,” he said. “I remember when I came around… as far as remembering things, I had short-term memory loss.
“I remember my wife being in the room and me being assessed in the back room by our medical staff. Then I started remembering things, and then suddenly: okay, we’re getting in the back of the ambulance to get a CT scan.
Austin Ekeler stood motionless on the field after taking a huge hit on Sunday
Ekeler was able to leave the field, but needed help and seemed very unstable
“I can remember pretty much everything from that point on, but it just shows you the gravity of things. I definitely had a concussion and saw some serious symptoms there.”
It is Ekeler’s second concussion of the season, after also being injured in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
He told the radio station this week that he has suffered from dizziness and neck pain since the second incident, but is starting to feel better.
“I feel like myself again,” he said. “I definitely went through it for a while there, just dealing with the concussion symptoms and trying to get through the foggy feeling, but it’s definitely going in the right direction.
“It’s week to week, man; it’s one of those things I want to learn more about. It’s my second concussion. Am I more susceptible to a third now that I’ve had two and the severity of mine?
‘So it’s a learning process for me because I’ve never had anything like this before, twice in the same year.
“It’s one of those things where I’m human and I don’t know everything about my circumstances right now; I’ve got some new ones I’m dealing with, and one of those things where you just have to keep learning and then try to make the best judgment.”
Ekeler is still on concussion protocol. The Commanders have a bye week this weekend and then hit the road on December 15 against the New Orleans Saints.