The Washington Commanders have traded running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2026 sixth-round draft choice, a source familiar with the negotiations confirmed Friday.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn held Robinson out of Monday’s preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals and the week’s training camp practices as Washington pursued a trade.
The 49ers were a logical suitor. Coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad suffered a slew of preseason injuries behind running back Christian McCaffrey, who is also injury-prone.
San Francisco’s primary backup, Isaac Guerendo, missed multiple weeks of training camp with a shoulder injury. Fellow 49ers running back Jordan James has been sidelined with a broken finger, and Patrick Taylor Jr. will miss the NFL season with a dislocated shoulder suffered in a preseason game, according to multiple reports.
Robinson provided a solid, if not explosive, presence in Washington’s backfield.
The Alabama product was drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft, but his debut was delayed by a robbery that August. Robinson suffered gunshot wounds to his knee and rear end in the altercation in Northeast D.C.
He was released from the hospital the next day but didn’t make his first NFL appearance until a month later.
In three seasons with the Commanders, Robinson struggled to meet expectations of an every-down running back. Last season, his first under Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, was his best yet with 799 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Without Robinson, the Commanders will likely rely on a committee next to quarterback Jayden Daniels in the backfield. Veteran Austin Ekeler is expected to take third-down snaps as a pass-catching option.
Quinn said Thursday that Chris Rodriguez, the 2022 sixth-round pick who spent most of last season on the practice squad, could take on short-yardage responsibilities.
Seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt will likely accept the bulk of early-down carries after an impressive offseason.