49ers bolster injury-hit backfield
by acquiring Brian Robinson from Washington
[August 23, 2025]
By JOSH DUBOW
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers added a proven
running back to their injury-depleted group by acquiring Brian
Robinson from the Washington Commanders for a 2026 sixth-round draft
pick.
Two people familiar with the deal said the trade will be finalized
once Robinson passes a physical. The people spoke on condition of
anonymity because the trade hadn't been announced.
ESPN first reported the deal.
San Francisco was in need of adding healthy running backs behind
starter Christian McCaffrey after Patrick Taylor, Corey Kiner and
Ameer Abdullah all got placed on injured reserve this month.
Fifth-round rookie Jordan James is also out with a broken finger,
and second-year back Isaac Guerendo just returned to practice this
week after missing time with a shoulder injury.
Robinson was one of a few players left who were drafted by
Washington’s previous regime led by Ron Rivera. A third-round pick
in 2022, he was the Commanders’ leading rusher among running backs
last season with 799 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns. He
has 2,329 yards rushing and 15 TDs the last three seasons.
General manager Adam Peters, who came from San Francisco, drafted
Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the seventh round this year, and the
rookie known as “Bill” was expected to share carries with Austin
Ekeler and Chris Rodriguez Jr. after Robinson appeared to fall out
of favor with the coaching staff.
Robinson didn't play in Washington's preseason game on Monday night
and was excused from practice earlier this week. Coach Dan Quinn
said an organizational decision had been made to hold Robinson out
of practices and games and to keep players informed of the situation
so they did not hear about it elsewhere.
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Robinson’s time with the organization is perhaps
best known for being shot twice in the right leg as part of a
carjacking attempt in the summer of 2022 before making his NFL
debut. He missed the first month but returned to rush for nearly 800
yards and five TDs in 12 games, and a year after said he felt night
and day from the aftermath of the shooting.
McCaffrey typically handles most of the load for the 49ers when
healthy. He led the NFL with 339 scrimmage touches and 2,023 yards
when he won AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. McCaffrey
played at least 75% of the offensive snaps 15 times that season,
including the playoffs.
But the 29-year-old McCaffrey played only four games last season
because of injuries to both Achilles and his knee. He also missed
significant time due to injuries in 2020 and 2021 with Carolina.
Robinson is the second veteran player added this week by San
Francisco in a trade. The Niners also swapped late-round picks in
2027 with Kansas City in a deal to acquire receiver Skyy Moore.
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AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report
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