The Washington Commanders are moving on from their lead back by sending him to an NFC team in search of backfield support.
The Commanders on Friday agreed to trade running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers pending a physical, in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade was not yet official.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the move.
Robinson, 26, eclipsed 700 yards rushing in each of his three seasons with the Commanders. But news broke last week that the team was shopping the back, and the organization subsequently held him out of Monday’s preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“There’s just a lot of moving parts,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said after the game. “This time of year, those things take place. And so I just wanted to make sure that’s my responsibility to let the team know whenever I can so they’re not hearing any information from anywhere else.”
A third-round pick out of Alabama in 2022, Robinson served as the top option in the Commanders’ backfield throughout his time with the organization. After being shot in an August 2022 attempted robbery in Washington, D.C., he underwent knee surgery and led the team in rushing with 797 yards.
But in 2024, the 6-1, 228-pound ball carrier was outgained by quarterback Jayden Daniels (891 yards to 799) despite the rookie phenom logging nearly 40 fewer carries. Robinson’s career high of 4.27 yards per rush still ranked 53rd among qualified players, according to Sumer Sports, and he was held to under 40 rushing yards in four of the team’s last six contests.
Third-year ball carrier Chris Rodriguez Jr. and seventh-round rookie Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt – a training camp standout – took over the bulk of the work, and both could be in line for larger roles upon Robinson’s departure. Veterans Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols round out the position group.
“Going into training camp, we thought this was a deep room,” Quinn said.
The 49ers, meanwhile, add depth behind Christian McCaffrey, who appeared in just four games last season after his 2023 Offensive Player of the Year campaign. Backup Isaac Guerendo returned to practice this week after a shoulder injury sidelined him for San Francisco’s first two preseason games, while fifth-round rookie Jordan James has also been sidelined with a broken finger.
Brian Robinson Jr. contract
Robinson is set to earn $3.4 million in the final year of his rookie deal. The Commanders agreed to pay a portion of the sum, according to multiple reports. Washington will save more than $3 million in cap space with the move.
Brian Robinson Jr. stats
2024: 187 carries, 799 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 8 rushing touchdowns, 20 catches, 159 receiving yards
2023: 178 carries, 733 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry, 5 rushing touchdowns, 36 catches, 368 receiving yards, 4 touchdown catches
2022: 205 carries, 797 rushing yards, 3.9 yards per carry, 2 rushing touchdowns, 9 catches, 60 receiving yards, 1 touchdown catch
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brian Robinson Jr. trade: Commanders deal RB to 49ers
