Brian Robinson Jr. is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, and the Washington Commanders are expecting big things from the running back.
"He's been really focused," offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said of Robinson.
For all the tune-ups the Commanders have done to other positions on the roster, running back is one that received the fewest tweaks. Although there is intrigue surrounding Jacory Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round pick out of Arizona, it appears for now that the foundation of the group, which includes Austin Ekeler and newly re-signed Jeremy McNichols, will remain unchanged for the 2025 season.
The Commanders' running back room functions more as a committee rather than a hierarchy, as each player fills a different role in the offense. Still, Robinson showed what can happen when he gets a heavier workload. Washington will need him to do so again.
"He knows what this year means to him and can mean to us when he plays at that level," Kingsbury said.
The Commanders' offense and its third-ranked rushing attack were at their best when Robinson was a focal point of the game plan. The team was 7-1 in the regular and postseason when Robinson got 15 or more carries and 3-0 when he rushed for 100 yards. Four of the Commanders' top six offensive outputs also saw Robinson carry the ball at least 16 times and rush for at least 60 yards.
Robinson has yet to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, but the 2022 third-round pick had his best season in Kingsbury's system. He rushed 799 yards with eight touchdowns and averaged 4.3 yards per attempt, all three of which were career-highs, while getting just nine more carries (187) than he did in 2024 (178). Three of his top four single-game performances came last season, including 133 yards in the team's Week 2 win over the New York Giants.
Robinson isn't the only Commanders running back expected to step up this upcoming season. Ekeler is healthy after suffering two concussions last season and showed that he can still be a versatile weapon at 29 years old (he'll be 30 during the 2025 season). McNichols had to fill Robinson and Ekeler's roles last season, as both missed time with various injuries, and had the best season of his career with 261 yards and four touchdowns.
Players like Croskey-Merritt, who had a record-breaking season at New Mexico in 2023, and Deebo Samuel should also get some action in the backfield. Samuel has had at least 35 rushing attempts since 2021 and scored at least one rushing touchdown in five of his six seasons. The Commanders haven't revealed their full plans for Samuel, but it's reasonable to expect he will continue to be the offensive weapon he was with the San Francisco 49ers.
But Washington's coaches understand how integral Robinson was to their success last season because of his consistency and ability to keep the offense moving by picking up tougher yardage. They'll likely lean on him again in a contract year as tough opponents and defenses fill the 2025 schedule.
"B-Rob's a guy who has played an incredibly high level," Kingsbury said. "I thought early in the year when he was really healthy, he was what we expect him to be, and the focus this offseason has been great."
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