For the first time this season, the Commanders have lost consecutive games, but one of their starters has reached a personal milestone.
With his 63 rushing yards against the Eagles in Thursday night’s 26-18 loss, Brian Robinson surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards. No, he is not among the top leading rushers in the NFL. However, Robinson is revealing that he is a productive dual threat.
Robinson not only reached 2,000 rushing yards in his third season (with six remaining games), but he also became the fourth running back in Washington Redskins/Commanders franchise history to hit 2,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in his first three seasons in the NFL.
Love how Brian Robinson runs. Knows Baun is unblocked. Takes the run as far to the edge as possible to move Baun outside. Cuts vertical and rumbles. pic.twitter.com/j1VTKvMkw2
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) November 15, 2024
Which other Washington running backs accomplished this within their first three seasons? Larry Brown (1969-71), Mike Thomas (1975-77), and Antonio Gibson (2021-23) are the only three.
One nuance of the statistic is that the four players all started their careers in Washington.
However, one very prominent Washington running back accomplished this feat in his first three seasons. Yet, the nuance in this case is that the running back spent his first two seasons in the NFL elsewhere, came to Washington, and enjoyed several high-caliber seasons.
Clinton Portis, in his first three seasons in the NFL (two with Denver, one with Washington), had rushing totals of 1,508, 1,591, and 1,315 (4,414 rushing yards) and receiving totals of 364, 314, and 235 (913 receiving yards).
Many fans have easily framed their narrative that the 2012 10-6 Washington season was all about Robert Griffin III. Yes, Griffin was a spectacular running quarterback, rushing for 815 yards. He also led the NFL in passing yards per attempt that season at 8.1.
However, you must remember that Alfred Morris rushed for 1,613 yards in the 2012 season. What is significant about that rushing total by Morris? It was and remains, 12 seasons later, the franchise record for most rushing yards in a regular season.
However, Morris did not accumulate 500 receiving yards in his first three NFL seasons and thus did not make the list of four the Commanders have provided.
Congratulations to Brian Robinson. May you have many more successful rushing and receiving seasons for the Burgundy and Gold.