Austin Ekeler Organizing Call Among Top Running Backs on Contract issues, per Report

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is reportedly organizing a Zoom call with his peers at the position amid ongoing contractual issues between star ballcarriers and franchises across the league, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.

Per Florio’s report, all of the big name running backs have been invited, and the NFL Players Association will also be involved in the call in some capacity.

Ekeler is among several running backs this offseason who struggled to land long-term extensions with their clubs. As league front offices pivot away from paying what was once one of the most important positions on the field, stars like Ekeler, Saquon Barkley and others have been left out in the dark.

For Barkley in particular, he and the Giants were unable to reach a contract extension before the league-mandated deadline to extend players on the franchise tag earlier this week, and he’s expected to hold out of training camp as the sides work toward a resolution. The Giants placed the franchise tag on Barkley earlier this offseason after reaching a multi-year contract extension with quarterback Daniel Jones.

There is no clear path forward for running backs across the league as they look to improve their contractual output, but this Zoom call set to take place on Saturday is a sign that this story is far from over.