After Brian Robinson Jr. led Washington in rushing yards for his first three NFL seasons, the Commanders traded him in August to the San Francisco 49ers.
Robinson won’t be the 49ers’ leading rusher in 2025, but he might play a bigger role down the stretch of the season than he did in the first half.
“Yeah, I would,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said when asked if Robinson had earned more carries. “I think four weeks in a row, he’s had his best game, so each week it keeps getting better.”
The 49ers acquired Robinson as an insurance policy for Christian McCaffrey. A former NFL rushing leader who also has had a 1,000-yard receiving season, the two-time first-team All-Pro played in only four games last season.
This season, McCaffrey has played 84 percent of San Francisco’s offensive snaps, the highest rate for a running back in the NFL.
That hasn’t left much playing time for Robinson, who has 238 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries and six receptions for 15 yards in 10 games. But Robinson has 94 yards and two touchdowns on 13 rushing attempts in the past two games.
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Robinson said waiting for his opportunity in San Francisco reminded him of his time at Alabama. While with the Crimson Tide, the former Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa star played with future NFL backs Jerome Ford, Damien Harris, Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs, Jase McClellan and Bo Scarbrough. In his first four seasons at Alabama, Robinson ran for 1,361 yards and 15 touchdowns on 274 carries before totaling 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns on 271 rushing attempts in 2021.
“I came from a program in college where you have to wait your turn,” Robinson said. “You don’t come in and start, even if you have the talent or ability. It’s rare that you come in and be a Day 1 starter. It’s taught me just to be patient, stay down and continue working. When my time comes, I got to be ready for that.
“I don’t think being in this situation is humbling to me. I’m pretty humble for the most part. It’s just another one of those situations where regardless of the role I’m playing, I got to still prepare like I’m the guy. That’s just how I come to work, like I’m the guy. That’s what has me ready for any opportunity. Anytime it’s my time to shine, I got to be ready for it.”
In a 34-24 victory over the New York Giants on Nov. 2, Robinson bowled over cornerback Deonte Banks on an 18-yard touchdown run. In a 42-26 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 9, Robinson smashed through a tackle attempt by inside linebacker Nate Landman on a 1-yard touchdown run.
For the latter effort, Robinson won the Week 10 Angry Runs scepter presented by NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.”
“That’s the goal anytime you touch the football is to score a touchdown or cross that goal line,” Robinson said, “so everything you do in between – the work and getting to the game – is to have you ready for those opportunities. It couldn’t have felt any better than to cross the goal line the last two weeks.”
The 49ers play the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC West game at 3:05 p.m. CST Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. San Franciso has a 6-4 record, and Arizona owns a 3-6 mark.
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