Chargers running back Austin Ekeler didn't make the Pro Bowl as a starter or an alternate, but he still takes pride in what he has accomplished this season.
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00:00 >> Are you surprised that you weren't selected to the Pro Bowl as a starter or
00:04 an alternate?
00:05 >> No, just because coming into the season, I was just,
00:09 I didn't know what to expect.
00:12 I was coming in, I was trying to expand my role on the offense and
00:16 didn't know how far I could push the limit.
00:20 And I've pushed it this far, this far, I guess.
00:23 >> Fastball to the Pro Bowl.
00:24 >> Fastball to the Pro Bowl, yeah, a little Pro Bowl, but yeah,
00:28 I was just trying to get to the Pro Bowl.
00:30 >> [LAUGH] >> That's what I said, a hootie moment.
00:32 >> I was just seeing how far I could push this limit.
00:34 And I felt like I pushed it pretty far, but
00:37 apparently not far enough to get some Pro Bowl votes and sneak me in.
00:41 So that's fine, that's fine, cuz to me, I still accomplished my goal that I set out
00:46 to do in the beginning of the season, that was increase my role in offense.
00:50 >> Did you think about Pro Bowl as a possibility?
00:53 >> Didn't even think about it.
00:55 It never was a thought until a couple weeks ago,
00:59 like hey, nice thing in Pro Bowl, numbers getting up there.
01:02 So it's just, I don't know, it comes down to a lot of things, like popularity.
01:07 Y'all obviously had to play well, so I don't know, even some of the picks.
01:11 Some people getting in, just like, okay, I'm looking at Vaughn,
01:16 I'm like, isn't that, missed so many games, he still got in, that's crazy.
01:21 So definitely, popularity definitely helps.
01:24 I'm still on the upcoming in that category, so I feel like that kinda hurt me as well.
01:28 There's a lot of more than just playing well that goes into it.
01:31 >> Your last time in Carson, any significance to that,
01:37 any feeling about that?
01:40 >> Not necessarily, cuz I'm pretty excited about going to the new stadium.
01:43 I think it's gonna be a pretty special experience playing in that stadium.
01:49 Just going up there and seeing it when it's finished, I haven't been up there.
01:52 But no real feelings, I'm kinda ready to get out of stuff.
01:55 To be honest, it's small, it's cramped, it's a locker room.
02:00 So it's a good temporary spot, I guess, for what we're here, three years.
02:05 And I'm ready to move out.
02:09 >> In a weird way, was it somewhat flattering that there was kind of
02:12 an uproar about you not making the Pro Bowl,
02:15 whether it be comments on social media or comments from your teammates?
02:18 >> Yeah, absolutely, cuz I think my fans,
02:21 I have a pretty loyal fan base, cuz I'm a small town kid.
02:24 So I think that people that support me really have my back.
02:27 And so it's good to see just in my little community and
02:30 the social atmosphere, people actually pulling for me.
02:34 I appreciate it, absolutely, but the league is huge.
02:39 And I'm a little small part in it, trying to make my presence more.
02:43 And I think with these upcoming years, I'm probably gonna do just that.
02:46 And so now it's on my mind going forward.
02:49 Even at the beginning of this year, like I mentioned, it wasn't on my mind.
02:53 But now it's time, I'm definitely, okay, I can do it.
02:56 I've kinda just been pushing my envelope, and now that's where my eyes are.
03:01 >> Anthony was saying Sunday,
03:04 he didn't recognize the team he saw on the field on Sunday.
03:07 Now with just two games left, how do you flip this around?
03:12 >> That was pretty uncharacteristic of us, just going out there and
03:15 turning the ball over that many times.
03:17 That's uncharacteristic of any NFL team.
03:20 And it just doesn't usually happen.
03:22 For whatever reason, we turn the ball over seven times.
03:25 I've never been in a game like that.
03:26 I've never had a turnover, seven turnovers in one game.
03:29 You're never gonna win a game in the NFL with seven turnovers.
03:32 But not as emphasis this week,
03:34 just gotta make sure we're locked in on the ball.
03:37 Cuz that's what it comes down to, is possessions for
03:39 the offense, so we can actually get in a position to score.
03:42 So during this week, I know even in our running back room,
03:45 it's been an imposition.
03:46 Even though it's the last two weeks, we're not going to playoffs, it's still A.
03:49 We're still going out there to try to win games.
03:51 And so we'll be focusing on this week.
03:54 >> Is it easy to put a stinker like that behind you?
03:58 Or that's what the NFL is about week to week?
04:01 >> Shoot, I mean at this point, yeah, just because we're not going to playoffs.
04:04 So it's like, yeah, that sucks.
04:06 Don't, let's not try to replicate that ever.
04:09 And so that's easy to put behind you.
04:11 If we're in a different position, that's not as easy as like, wait a minute.
04:15 But I feel like we've kind of dug ourselves into a hole.
04:19 And so you're at this point, it's like, hey, we're trying our best.
04:24 Coach Lynn talked about it today.
04:25 You got three different types of guys right now.
04:28 It's like people that have already checked out, people that are on the fence.
04:32 They go either way, or people that are all in the competitive.
04:34 And I feel like we got a pretty competitive group right now.
04:36 So looking forward, we'll put that behind and move forward and shoot.
04:40 We got two more weeks.
04:41 I know I still have personal goals.
04:43 A lot of our teammates have personal goals.
04:44 I'm still trying to get to 1,000 yards receiving.
04:46 And so we're still going, we're still reaching, we're still trying to get all
04:50 these little goals here before these two weeks are over.
04:54 >> How much would it mean to you to get that 1,000 yards receiving?
04:58 >> Shoot a lot.
04:59 I mean, it's something that I didn't, it's one of those things again,
05:02 like the pro bowl, I didn't even think about 1,000 yards.
05:04 I didn't know what, I just see like, hey, let's try to increase my role.
05:07 So whatever that, however that comes.
05:09 And I know if I get that mark, I mean, I know I'm gonna remember the season.
05:13 But if I really get that mark, it'd be like a stamp on it.
05:15 Like, hey, that was my 1,000 yard receiving year, things like that.
05:19 Even just, I have double the touchdowns this year too for the first time.
05:23 So this season for me personally has been just an awakening for me to show that,
05:29 hey, I can do more than just play running back and I can get in the slot.
05:32 I can play receiver.
05:33 I can run the speed sweep.
05:34 So I can be anywhere in the offense and continue to make plays and be effective.
05:38 So getting 1,000 yards, which is like I said,
05:41 just be a little cherry on top.
05:43 >> Just also, Kenan's got to 1,000, but Mike's close.
05:47 >> Mike's close, yeah.
05:48 >> I mean, three 1,000 yard receivers.
05:51 >> Yeah, it's rare.
05:51 >> Pretty special, yeah.
05:52 No, that's a tribute to the guys up front.
05:55 And Philip, he's finding the ball and spreading it out.
05:58 And us finishing on the back end, it comes down to just making plays.
06:02 And then it just seemed like we were too inconsistent all year.
06:05 We just needed either more people making plays or us making more plays.
06:09 Just cuz we were just barely losing these games, barely losing these games.
06:12 So it's great that we have the yards right now.
06:14 But it's like, in the grand scheme, we didn't do enough still to get the job done
06:19 and win Colton.
06:20 >> There's been a lot of talk this might be Philip's last home game.
06:24 Just, have there been any murmurs around the locker room or anything?
06:30 >> It's kind of been on the hush as far as what's going on with that.
06:33 I think that upstairs are trying to keep that on the down low until the season's
06:37 over cuz it's about to be a frenzy in our locker room.
06:40 Especially on the offensive side with all the contracts that are coming up.
06:43 So everyone's kind of looking around like, hey,
06:45 what do you guys think is gonna go on?
06:46 But there's no real talk between us and upstairs.
06:49 So it's kind of all just murmurs from us.
06:51 But none of us know, we don't know.
06:54 We don't know what they're gonna do upstairs.
06:55 And we know what we want, but that's a different story.
06:58 >> At the end of preseason, we were asking questions about you and
07:04 Justin and Mel might be in here.
07:07 And now whatever, weeks later, we're trying to, we're asking about now making
07:11 the playoffs.
07:12 >> Mm-hm, right, right, that's what I'm saying, what the heck?
07:15 >> So how would you describe what's the last whatever 14,
07:18 15 weeks have been for you and for your NFL career?
07:22 >> I think it's been just eye opening to myself.
07:24 Just even coming in two and a half years ago, I didn't know.
07:29 I was just trying to make the team.
07:31 And so I didn't know how big of a presence I could have,
07:34 how big of an effect I could have on a team or myself or the NFL.
07:37 So I just, I keep saying it, but it's true.
07:41 I just keep trying to push myself and increase my role.
07:44 And seeing how far I can push that and increase my role.
07:47 And then even push it to the fact, okay, now I'm pushing pro bowl votes.
07:51 Okay, not even then, that's okay.
07:52 Now I'm looking to just affect my community and things like that.
07:56 I think it's the next step cuz I've been so focused on football.
07:59 I've been all in on this, all in, all in, all in.
08:02 And now I'm starting to have an effect on people.
08:04 I have a little following now.
08:06 And I'm starting to affect people.
08:08 So now I'm wanting to, okay, now how can I help my community that's following me and
08:11 supporting me?
08:12 So it's been a long journey.
08:15 It's been fun, but I'm gonna continue to have the same mindset.
08:19 Keep pushing myself and my role into the NFL and to the community.
08:23 Good morning.