Brian Robinson Jr. is in his second season with the Washington Commanders after being selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was in competition as a rookie to be the Commanders’ starting running back during training camp, but his season and life were changed the day after the team’s last preseason game.
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What Happened to Brian Robinson Jr.?
On Aug. 28, 2022, Robinson was shot in the leg twice during an attempted robbery. He suffered two gunshot wounds to his lower extremities that required surgery.
Robinson was fortunate that no major tendons or ligaments were hit, and he did not have significant damage. He let fans know that the surgery went well and thanked everyone for their support. Shortly after the surgery, Robinson was released from the hospital and back at the team facility within a week of the shooting.
In November, the Commanders received criticism after mentioning Robinson’s shooting in a statement about Washington, D.C., Attorney General Karl Racine. The team used the shooting to be critical of Racine’s handling of gun violence in the city, as he was preparing to announce an investigation into the team’s alleged workplace misconduct.
D.C. police had arrested a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old in connection with Robinson’s shooting a few days earlier.
When Did Robinson Return Last Season?
Robinson missed the first four games in 2022 before returning for a Week 5 matchup with the Tennessee Titans, rushing for 22 yards on nine carries. In his first NFL start, he scored his first career touchdown the next week against the Chicago Bears.
MORE: Washington Commanders Depth Chart 2023
Robinson started nine of the last 12 games in 2022 and shared the workload with Antonio Gibson in the Commanders’ backfield. As a rookie, he rushed for at least 85 yards on five occasions and finished with 797 yards. He had two rushing touchdowns and averaged 3.6 yards per carry on 205 carries.
In the final month of his rookie season, Robinson suffered a thigh injury and missed the final game due to a knee injury.
How Is Robinson Performing This Season?
In August, Robinson was excited about this year, as he told the Associated Press, “I feel night and day from like last year. There wasn’t one time I felt like Brian Robinson. People should expect a lot of great things to come when you compare all the things I did while I was limping around all year last year.”
Robinson has already set a career high with three rushing touchdowns in the first four games. He has become more involved in the passing game, with five receptions on seven targets for 55 yards compared to nine catches on 12 targets in 12 games last season.
Where Did Robinson Go to College?
Robinson played at Alabama for five seasons and was behind future NFL running backs Damien Harris, Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs, and Bo Scarbrough on the Crimson Tide depth chart. Robinson’s Alabama team played for a national championship in four of his five seasons.
As a senior, Robinson was named first-team All-SEC after totaling 1,343 rushing yards, 296 receiving yards, and 16 total touchdowns. In the national semifinal, he had 204 rushing yards and was named Cotton Bowl MVP.