Commanders RB Reveals Driving Force Behind His 2025 Goals
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. enters the 2025 season with a sense of urgency. As he approaches the final year of his rookie deal, the 25-year-old is aiming to prove he's worthy of a long-term extension, whether from Washington or another team.
Robinson has shown flashes of being a reliable lead back, but durability remains a question mark. Since entering the league in 2022, he has yet to complete a full season. His rookie campaign was notably interrupted by a traumatic event — Robinson was shot twice in an attempted robbery just weeks before the season opener. Remarkably, he missed only four games and returned to rush for 797 yards.
Robinson continued to show growth over the next two seasons, logging over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 17 total touchdowns. Despite steady improvement, the Commanders appear to be exploring future options.
During the 2025 NFL Draft, Washington selected running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the seventh round. Croskey-Merritt has been touted as a late-round steal and has already turned heads within the organization.
I said it during the predraft process & I said it again when he was taken in the 7th in that I fully expect Jacory Croskey-Merritt to earn touches when things count in Washington this fall.
Good to hear his minicamp is off to a hot start — the kid can flat out play ball. — Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) June 11, 2025
Expert NFL analysis on the best NFL Anytime Touchdown predictions for Week 12, including Brian Robinson Jr's chances of getting into the end zone.
Expert NFL analysis on the best NFL Anytime Touchdown predictions for Week 12, including Brian Robinson Jr's chances of getting into the end zone.Robinson is also sharing a backfield with Austin Ekeler, who handled much of the receiving workload last season and is entering a contract year himself.With competition brewing and his contract expiring, Robinson understands that he's not only playing to maintain his starting role, but also to secure his future in the NFL.
"The biggest thing for me is just being available," Robinson told reporters. "Just being on the field, I think, when I'm healthy and I'm well — the biggest thing for me is just being available, being out there on the field where I can continue to produce. Everything, as far as the craft, I'm going to continue to stay sharp and continue to work, put in the extra time, the extra hours in the building, outside the building, whatever I need to do to stay sharp."
HELL WHEN I'M WELL: RB Brian Robinson, Jr. on final year of his rookie deal, and what he's been working on the last few months:
"The biggest thing for me is just being available... when I'm healthy and I'm well... I'm hell when I'm well for sure"@JPFinlayNBCS #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/j3Ror1Boqm — NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) June 10, 2025
Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury knows how effective Robinson can be. If he stays healthy and produces in 2025, a long-term deal could be on the horizon.
"He's been really focused," Kingsbury said. "The biggest thing that came out of last year I think was that any of the guys that we asked to go in and play, played at a really high level.
"B-Rob's a guy who has played an incredibly high level. 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. He knows what this year means to him and can mean to us when he plays at that level."
For more Washington Commanders and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
31 minutes ago
- Fox News
Bills' Josh Allen defends controversial 'tush push' play despite his team voting to ban it
Josh Allen is not seeing eye-to-eye with his own team about one of the biggest controversies in the sport. The Buffalo Bills were one of 22 teams to vote to ban the tush push – 24 were needed to officially make the play illegal. However, the quarterback himself, who has a knack for finding the end zone with his legs himself, said he believes that it should remain a part of the game. "I'm a big believer in if you can't stop it, keep running it, right?" Allen told Sports Illustrated. "I think that there's a few teams that do it better than others, but then you look at a few teams that try to do it, and it doesn't have the same success. Because, one, they maybe don't practice it enough or, two, they don't have the guys to do it. And just because a couple teams do it better than others, I don't feel like it should be banned. "I understand the merit of what it brings, and so I don't really sway one way or the other. I try to play the game based on the interpretation of the rules. And if that was the rule that was passed, you know, we'll find a different way. But I feel like if you can use it to your benefit, use it to your benefit. If you don't like it, my advice is to stop it, you know?" The Green Bay Packers initiated the rule-change proposal, which would have prohibited "an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap." The proposal added that a penalty would be assessed on any offensive player who violated the rule. Proponents of the play and those who oppose it both presented strong arguments, while the league expressed worry about safety. Rich McKay, the NFL Competition Committee chair, said in April the issues go beyond safety, because there was not enough data to say whether it is a dangerous play. The league has said there have been no injuries reported from the tush push. Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu called the play "cheap." During the tush push meeting with owners, Philadelphia Eagles team owner Jeffrey Lurie reportedly brought Jason Kelce into the meeting to explain why the tush push should be kept in the game. The Eagles have had the most success with the play over the last few years, and Kelce's input was apparently enough for owners to forgo approving the ban. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
USA Today
37 minutes ago
- USA Today
We hit 81 in our Raiders countdown to kickoff. Who wore it best and who's wearing it now
We hit 81 in our Raiders countdown to kickoff. Who wore it best and who's wearing it now We've reached 81 days until the Raiders season opener at Foxboro against the Patriots, With our countdown at 81 days we take a look at who currently dons the number in Silver & Black and who has brought it the most distinction. No. 81 Who's wearing it now: WR Alex Bachman Bachman has been trying to find a role in an NFL offense for the past five years. He spent his first couple years in the league with the New York Giants, appearing in four games, but seeing no targets. He then bounced around offseason rosters and practice squads for a couple years before reappearing last season for the Raiders where he was elevated to the active roster in week four and got his first career catches in week six. In total he caught three passes in the team's game against the Steelers. Who wore it best: WR Tim Brown One of the greatest receivers in Raiders history. Nicknamed "Mr Raider", he had held the Raiders single-season receptions record for 23 years from 1997 to 2020. He still holds the record for most seasons leading the Raiders in receptions (11) and yards (10) and touchdowns (10). most career receptions (1070) and yards (14,734), 1000-yard seasons (nine), 100-yard games (43), and TD receptions (99). All of this despite beginning his career a primarily a return specialist and not becoming a full time starting wide receiver until his fifth season. Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chiefs Facing Racial Discrimination Lawsuit from Former NFL Player
Chiefs Facing Racial Discrimination Lawsuit from Former NFL Player originally appeared on Athlon Sports. A former Kansas City Chiefs employee and ex-NFL player is suing the team, alleging racial discrimination. Advertisement According to Front Office Sports, Ramzee Robinson filed the lawsuit in the Western District of Missouri on Tuesday. Among Robinson's accusations: "The Chiefs paid African-American business employees less than their white counterparts." The claim also states the Chiefs "unlawfully discriminated and retaliated against Plaintiff based on his race" and "unlawfully terminated" Robinson. Robinson worked as Kansas City's director of player engagement from 2016-25. The lawsuit states he started in his position with a salary of $35,000 before earning a final salary of $125,000. Per the lawsuit, Robinson sought a salary review with team President Mark Donovan. Donovan allegedly rejected the request while declaring that the "Chiefs had previously given him raises." Advertisement The lawsuit further states that Donovan pressured Robinson into renewing his existing contract without a raise, and later the Chiefs refused a request from the Houston Texans to interview him for a job. Robinson played defensive back in the NFL from 2007-09, appearing in 26 games over stints with the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns. 'We can't comment because it's an active legal matter,' Chiefs Vice President of Football Communications Brad Gee told Pro Football Talk. 'But to be clear, the Chiefs do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We look forward to the facts of this case coming to light.' Robinson also says his supervisor, Executive Vice President of Administration Kirsten Krug, called him into her office on Feb. 15 and told him he had engaged in "conduct detrimental to the league.' Per the lawsuit, Krug "suggested" that Robinson "attacked" a white female coworker and that there was security video evidence of the alleged incident. Krug "refused to show Plaintiff the video," according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Krug then fired Robinson, according to the lawsuit. Related: "Hollywood" Brown 'Grateful' For Second Chiefs Chance Related: Chiefs Rookie Tight-Lipped On Training Camp Participation This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
