The San Francisco 49ers running back room is among the many positions that injuries throughout training camp have decimated. On Friday, the team addressed its depth by acquiring Brian Robinson Jr. in a trade with the Washington Commanders.
RELATED 49ers acquire RB Brian Robinson Jr. in trade with Commanders
Here's how the 49ers' backfield looks after the trade, with former NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey still locked in as the lead back.
- Christian McCaffrey
- Brian Robinson Jr.
- Isaac Guerendo
- Jordan James*
- Jeff Wilson Jr.
- Ke'Shawn Vaughn
James, a fifth-round selection in this year's draft, is currently sidelined with a broken finger.
The following two players are on the injured reserve (IR) list:
- RB Corey Kiner (high-ankle)
- RB Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder)
The 49ers recently waived Kiner, but after going unclaimed, he reverted to San Francisco's IR list.
While McCaffrey has been healthy all offseason, he is coming off an injury-plagued 2024 campaign, appearing in only four games after battling Achilles tendinitis and before a PCL injury ended his season. The addition of Robinson gives San Francisco valuable insurance in case McCaffrey misses time again.
The 49ers were interested in Robinson during the 2022 NFL Draft process, even hosting the former Alabama standout on a pre-draft visit. Now, he joins the roster after posting 799 rushing yards and eight touchdowns for Washington in 2024.
Robinson's arrival likely pushes second-year back Isaac Guerendo down the depth chart. Guerendo missed part of training camp with a shoulder injury, making it difficult to gain momentum. With James sidelined and two running backs on IR, Robinson provides much-needed stability to a unit that has been in flux all summer.
The 49ers host the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night in their preseason finale. McCaffrey and Robinson are unlikely to play, but the matchup will be critical for players on the roster bubble fighting for a spot. Last year, San Francisco carried four running backs on its initial 53-man roster after cutdowns.