Chris Rodriguez expected to take over key RB role for Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders have traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a sixth-round pick. Why do you care about this, Big Blue Nation? Because it likely signals a massive promotion for Chris Rodriguez Jr., potentially as the franchise’s new starting running back in 2025.

At minimum, he’s taking over as the goal-line running back in Washington — meaning the former Kentucky star is going to rack up some touchdowns this fall. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed as much this week when asked about Robinson’s likely replacement amid reports they’d be moving on from the 26-year-old back coming off a career year in 2024.

Is Rodriguez up next?

“Yes,” Quinn said. “And I would say there are also parts of our offense that are a little bit untraditional, not using a lead blocker sometimes in short yardage. But I do like knowing Chris has that tackle-breaking ability, especially in short space. I would say, yeah, that would be one at the front taking his place.”

Rookie standout Bill Croskey-Merritt has impressed as a seventh-rounder in training camp and preseason action while Austin Ekeler has been a star pass-catcher for years, when healthy. Jeremy McNichols is also a nice depth piece the Commanders like in the backfield.

With cream rising to the top in that room — headlined by Rodriguez — Washington was comfortable making the move.

“Going into training camp, we really thought this was a deep room,” Quinn added. “There would be real competition. We knew this was one of our strengths going into training camp.”

Rodriguez is coming off a 173-yard, two-touchdown sophomore season. He didn’t take the leap he was expecting after picking up 247 yards and two scores as a rookie with Robinson emerging as the go-to power back — he rushed for a career-high 799 yards and eight touchdowns last season — but he’s spent the entire offseason pushing for an expanded role.

That’s led to a standout preseason, and now, potentially a standout regular season.

“I’m just working harder and believing in myself,” he said this week. “Last year was tough, but I’ll keep working and keep grinding and hopefully things fall in my favor. … At the end of the day, I’m just focusing on myself and preparing for the next game.”

He was a sixth-round pick in 2023 after a record-setting career at Kentucky, finishing with 3,644 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns. Ranked fifth on the FBS active career rushing yards list, what’s next for the former Wildcat?

It sounds like big things.