Chargers give Ekeler permission to seek trade amid stalled contract talks

Austin Ekeler could be on his way out of Los Angeles.

The Chargers have granted the standout running back permission to seek a trade, his agent told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Ekeler requested permission to speak with other teams about a potential move on Monday after preliminary extension talks with the Chargers didn't progress, his agent said.

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.