Brian Robinson Jr. feels 'night and day' difference in year 2

11 months to the day of being shot multiple times in the leg during an attempted carjacking, Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. is feeling grateful for those who have stood by his side.

Brian Robinson on the opportunity to (hopefully) enter this season healthy, and being grateful for his recovery from last year's shooting. pic.twitter.com/qKf4foZgB1

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) July 28, 2023

“I’m very grateful,” Robinson said Friday, via NFL.com. “It’s not a day that I wake up and I’m not thankful and appreciative for everybody that was in my corner from the time everything happened to this point. I make sure I let everybody know every chance I get how much I appreciate them and how much I appreciate being here.”

Robinson, 24, was shot in his lower body at around 6 p.m. in Washington D.C. on Aug. 28, 2022, while out getting something to eat. He was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Robinson underwent successful surgery and was reportedly off crutches a week later. He remarkably returned to practice on Sept. 14 and made his NFL debut in Week 5.

Brian Robinson Jr. feeling like himself heading into 2nd NFL season

Upon his return, Robinson assumed the role as RB1 in Washington’s offense. In 12 games (nine starts), he rushed for 797 yards on 3.9 yards per carry and two touchdowns. Now a year removed from the injuries, Robinson said he finally feels like himself as he enters the 2023 season.

“From the time I stepped back on the field, I was dealing with all kinds of things going on in my body, you know from the incident I had, all type of things going on in my knee, everything going on in my hip. There wasn’t one time I felt like Brian Robinson,” Robinson said. “So, 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.”

After hauling in just nine receptions for 60 yards and a score through the air last season, Robinson is working on becoming more than just a one-dimensional back.

“If you want me to run routes, you want me to catch the ball, I can do that. If you need me to run power, I can do that,” Robinson said. “The biggest thing for me, I just don’t want to be one dimensional… I don’t want to be just a power back. I want to be able to run routes, run down the field, catch the ball with soft hands… Continue to grow my game.”