Brian Robinson Jr. reacts to Washington Commanders trade. Brian Robinson Jr. expressed his surprise when he was traded from the Washington Commanders to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Despite expecting to be the Commanders’ lead running back this year, Robinson is keeping his mindset steady and focused. Robinson entered training camp in Washington anticipating a starting role alongside Austin Ekeler, who would handle most of the pass-catching duties. That all changed following impressive performances from third-year back Chris Rodriguez Jr. and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
“Nothing changes for me”: Brian Robinson Jr on the trade
Reflecting on the move, Robinson told ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, “I really couldn’t tell you that right now. The last week or two has been a bit unusual, but nothing changes for me. I expect the same goals I set for myself three, four months ago. It stays the same, same process, same everything I expect to do of everything that I was expecting to do for myself this year. I expect to continue that even though I’m in a new home, so nothing should change.”
Brian Robinson Jr. had three strong seasons with the Washington Commanders
Over his three-year span with the Commanders, Robinson logged 2,319 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns on 565 carries. As a receiver, he tallied 581 yards and five touchdowns across 61 receptions. Last season, he posted 789 rushing yards and a career-high eight rushing touchdowns on 182 carries, along with 153 receiving yards on 19 catches during 13 games. Despite the solid numbers, the combination of roster depth and shifts in team strategy led Washington to move him in favor of younger backs.
San Francisco 49ers will use Robinson as a key backup in a run-first offense
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Robinson will serve as a key complement to star running back Christian McCaffrey. He said, “We brought him here to be our two back,” Shanahan said. “Always been a big fan of Brian. Loved him coming out of college. He’s done really well going against him, and we were pumped that he was available and we were pumped that we were able to get him.”Robinson joins a 49ers backfield that features McCaffrey as the feature back, with Robinson set to provide power running, fresh legs and tactical versatility – including critical third-down and short-yardage support.Also read: “Couldn’t give a f** less”: Joy Taylor blasts Jason Whitlock’s weight while addressing creepy peanut butter remarkNow settled in San Francisco, Robinson looks ahead to a new chapter