Washington may be done waiting on Brian Robinson Jr. The former Alabama standout has carried the load for three seasons, but his ceiling looks limited in the eyes of the front office. A rookie running back has already generated more buzz with a single preseason performance than Robinson has all summer. The writing on the wall points to one thing: his future with the Commanders is slipping away.
Why Do the Commanders Want to Move on From Brian Robinson Jr.?
During the pregame warmups, local radio host Chris Russell said, “They have been out on Brian Robinson since down the stretch, especially since before that Detroit playoff game…they were not happy with his aggression, his timid reading of his keys getting uphill.”
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Robinson, 26, has been the Commanders’ lead back since entering the league out of Alabama in 2022. In 41 games, he’s rushed for 2,329 yards and 15 touchdowns on 570 carries.
Local radio host Chris Russell shares news surrounding Brian Robinson Jr:
“They have been out on Brian Robinson since down the stretch especially since before that Detroit playoff game…they were not happy with his aggression, his timid reading of his keys getting uphill”
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) August 18, 2025
His best season was 2024, when he rushed for 799 yards on 187 carries with eight touchdowns.
Robinson hasn’t put up elite numbers, but he’s been more than respectable. During his first two seasons, he performed on a team with a less-than-imposing offense.
However, Robinson is entering the final year of his contract, and the Commanders think they have found a hidden gem in seventh-rounder rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merrit.
Croskey-Merritt has gotten a lot of publicity recently and broke out on Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals with a 27-yard touchdown run.
Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt goes by “Bill”
Bill just went 27 yards to the 🏠
Watch on ESPN
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/UD9tot9Iau— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2025
Regardless, if Russell’s words correctly reflect the Washington front offices’ sentiments, it might make it much harder for them to trade Robinson.
Multiple teams would welcome a healthy running back. The Houston Texans are without Joe Mixon as he recovers from a foot injury. Nick Chubb is slated as their lead back and is just two years removed from reconstructive knee surgery.
The San Francisco 49ers would be a good trade partner. Christian McCaffrey is healthy, but he’s 29 years old, and his backups, who are projected to be Isaac Guerendo and fifth-round rookie Jordan James, are dealing with injuries.
The Dallas Cowboys have a glaring hole at running back. A heel injury has hampered Jaydon Blue, and Phil Mafah has been impressive in the preseason. Javonte Williams is also on the roster, but Robinson would be a steadying force in their running back room.
However, it’s highly unlikely the Commanders would send Robinson to a division rival regardless of their opinion of his skills.
After Croskey-Merrit’s standout performance Monday night, Robinson’s future with the team looks bleak, with a trade or release looming as the probable outcome.
