Ekeler asks to seek trade from Chargers amid stalled contract talks

It appears Austin Ekeler wants out of the Los Angeles Chargers.

The standout running back is requesting permission to speak with other teams about a potential trade after preliminary extension talks with the Chargers didn't progress, his agent told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Ekeler led the NFL in scrimmage touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, reaching the end zone 38 times since 2021. He's racked up 1,826 yards (4.5 per carry) on the ground in that span to go along with 1,369 yards on 177 receptions.

The 27-year-old has one season left on his contract after signing a four-year, $24.5-million contract with Los Angeles in March 2020.

Ekeler ranks 15th in average annual salary among running backs. Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers tops the position at $16 million.

One of the NFL's most versatile running backs, Ekeler joined L.A. as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He's topped 900 scrimmage yards in each of the last five seasons and 1,500 in three of the last four campaigns.

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