Can Chargers fix fractured relationship with RB Austin Ekeler?

The Los Angeles Chargers and Austin Ekeler spent the better part of last offseason going round and round as the 28-year-old running back repeatedly expressed his desire for a raise and a long-term contract extension.

Now that Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley have both been replaced by Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh, respectively, there may be hope for the team to repair its fractured relationship with the star RB.

“If things go well, it's going to be because of guys like Austin Ekeler and the players," Harbaugh told the Associated Press over the weekend. “I like Austin Ekeler. We're going to have a huge emphasis on the run game, and we got to block better up front. He's a tremendous back and we'd love to have him on the team next year.”

After requesting a trade last March, Ekeler ultimately rescinded it once the team reworked his 2023 deal to provide him with an extra $1.75M in incentives. But that doesn’t mean that his initial issue of being underpaid is water under the bridge.

Ekeler has accounted for 1,550 yards from scrimmage with 11 or more touchdowns in three of the last five seasons, and he wants to be paid like one of the top players at his position.