The Washington Commanders are set to send running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a sixth-round selection in the 2026 draft, according to sources familiar with the situation, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Robinson sat out Washington’s preseason matchup on Monday against Cincinnati, indicating a definitive end to his time with the team. The Commanders intended to cut him if a trade partner could not be secured.
Washington had been actively looking to deal Robinson since earlier in the month, partly due to the running back depth that coaches have noted the team possesses.
This transaction will free up $3.3 million in salary cap room for the Commanders.
In bringing Robinson on board, the 49ers enhance the much-needed roster strength at a position that has faced significant injury challenges.
San Francisco has been missing rookie Jordan James for the majority of training camp, placed Patrick Taylor Jr. on injured reserve due to a shoulder issue, and has only recently welcomed back backup Isaac Guerendo following his own shoulder setback.
While starter Christian McCaffrey has navigated training camp without any problems, Robinson is expected to add a physical component that the Niners’ backfield currently lacks.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury expressed pride in their enhanced running back depth this summer, hinting at the possibility of parting ways with Robinson.
Their intentions were made evident when Robinson neither participated in nor attended Monday’s preseason matchup against Cincinnati.
Washington might adopt a running back by committee strategy. In the recent game, the Commanders’ primary rushers were Chris Rodriguez and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Both players achieved significant runs against the Bengals’ starting defensive unit—Rodriguez recorded a 40-yard run, while Croskey-Merritt completed a 27-yard touchdown on the second series. Together, they accounted for 17 carries and amassed 108 yards.
Additionally, the Commanders feature veteran third-down back Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols. “As we entered training camp, we genuinely believed this was a well-rounded group,” Quinn stated Monday evening. “We expected strong competition. We recognized this as one of our assets going into training camp.”
Robinson’s path in the NFL began in a challenging context. The third-round selection from the 2022 draft was a victim of gunfire on August 28, 2022, during a robbery attempt in Washington, D.C. Despite needing knee surgery from the incident, he managed to play in 12 games, achieving 797 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
At 26 years old, Robinson has tallied 2,329 rushing yards over 41 games with Washington since his selection by the team. He set a personal best last season with 799 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Throughout his career, he has averaged 4.1 yards per carry, placing him 40th among running backs since his entry into the league. He stood 29th for yards accumulated after initial contact, while his rate of 10-yard runs (9.8) ranked 86th. Nevertheless, he finished 17th in rushing yards per game with an average of 56.8.
