Robinson sidelined in preseason amid trade chatter

Washington keeps Robinson sidelined as it weighs its backfield future amid trade chatter and the rise of younger backs.

Commanders keep Brian Robinson Jr. out of preseason game amid trade speculation

Washington Commanders kept running back Brian Robinson Jr. out of their preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night, a move that underscores ongoing trade speculation and a broader reshuffle of the backfield. Coach Dan Quinn says he and general manager Adam Peters spoke with Robinson on Sunday about the plan to keep him inactive, and indicated the team is weighing options that could include a trade or a release if no partner is found.

The game offered a glimpse at the changing depth chart. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who goes by Bill, flashed his one-cut ability with a 27-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. added a 40-yard run on the opening series. Washington finished with a 31-17 loss as most of its offensive starters played only briefly. The decision to sit Robinson aligns with a broader look at the backfield, as the team evaluates how much it can lean on young backs while preserving veteran depth.

Robinson is in the final year of his rookie contract with a non-guaranteed $3.4 million base salary, a detail that factors into the decision-making. The Commanders have also relied on a versatile group that includes veteran back Austin Ekeler as a key offensive and special-teams piece, complemented by the re-signed Jeremy McNichols and depth options in Demetric Felton and Kazmeir Allen. Washington’s rush-centric shift last season—finishing third in rushing yards per game after a period of a run-heavy offense—frames the current strategy as the team eyes a more diversified backfield for the Sept. 7 opener.

The sit-down with Robinson and the ensuing move signal a deliberate shift from long-building depth to a younger, adaptable corps. Washington appears to be testing Croskey-Merritt and Rodriguez as potential week-one contributors, betting that speed and versatility can offset a veteran’s absence. That tension between cost control and depth will define this period, as management weighs cap efficiency against on-field reliability. If the team truly intends to build around its young backs, the next several weeks will be about deployment: how often the rookies are trusted in meaningful snaps, how blocking duties are shared, and how the running game complements the passing attack.

This kind of August reshuffling is common in the NFL, but it invites scrutiny from fans and analysts who gauge a team's ambition by its willingness to move a veteran for future upside. The risk, of course, is friction in the locker room if players feel a path to the lineup is narrowing. Still, Washington’s approach reflects a broader philosophy: chase long-term depth and flexibility even if it means short-term uncertainty. The coming weeks will reveal whether the backfield plan can stay balanced through pregame reps, injuries, and the inevitable grind of the season.

Highlights

The path to September will test how quickly Washington can build confidence in its younger backs.