What happened to Brian Robinson Jr.? How Commanders RB made miracle return to field after shooting

Posted on by Tereza Honoka

When the Commanders spent a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on Brian Robinson Jr., they envisioned him being a big part of their backfield rotation along with Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic.

It was anticipated that Robinson would have to fight to unseat Gibson from his role as the primary ball-carrier in Washington’s offense. That was supposed to be the greatest challenge of his rookie season.

Instead, Robinson found himself fighting for his life and livelihood as the preseason wound to a close.

Robinson was the victim of a violent crime in Washington D.C. during which he was shot twice. His injuries weren’t deemed life-threatening, but he still had to be hospitalized and have surgery as a result of them.

Even despite this, Robinson was able to return to the field for Washington in relatively short order. He played for the Commanders in Week 5, just over a month after he was shot twice, and ensured that he would have a chance to play football during his rookie season.

How did Robinson make this comeback? Here’s a run-down of exactly what happened to him and how he returned to the field so quickly for the Commanders.

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Brian Robinson Jr. robbery

On Aug. 28 at around 6 p.m. ET, Robinson became the victim of what was deemed an “attempted carjacking or armed robbery,” per the D.C. police. The 23-year-old was shot twice in the “lower extremities” during the incident, which was allegedly carried out by two teenage assailants.

The police released photos of two people they believe to be suspects in the shooting on Aug. 29. They found the gun involved in the incident several blocks from where it occurred, but they haven’t yet found a motive for the shooting.

The rookie running back “was able to wrestle a firearm away” from one of the assailants. That is part of what thwarted the attempted robbery before the two suspects could steal anything.

Robinson was taken to the hospital on Sunday, Aug. 28. It was reported that his injuries were non-life-threatening shortly after the shooting; he was also said to be in stable condition.

The Commanders issued a statement on Robinson’s condition and he posted an update himself after undergoing minor surgery to clean up the bullet wounds. 

After a two-month search, D.C. police announced they had apprehended Robinson’s shooter. The 16-year-old shooter was arrested and charged with Assault with intent to Rob while Armed. 

Despite this, Washington coach Ron Rivera admitted that his players were shaken by the news that Robinson had been hurt.

“I know their hearts are heavy right now,” Rivera said of his players, via Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.” … But we’re very fortunate. … A lot of the news was positive.”

Indeed, it was. Robinson not only avoided life-threatening complications from the injuries, but he also avoided a long timetable for a return to action.

MORE: Why Ron Rivera trusted Carson Wentz in crunch time over Brian Robinson

What was Brian Robinson Jr.’s injury?

Robinson’s two injuries were bullet wounds that he picked up during the attempted robbery. One struck him in the glute while another went into his knee.

Despite the severe-sounding nature of the injuries, Robinson was able to escape with relatively little damage. The bullet that went into his glute became lodged there, and doctors were able to remove it.

Most importantly, the bullet that hit Robinson’s knee was able to exit cleanly. That ensured none of the major ligaments or bones surrounding his knee were compromised.

Had Robinson suffered any sort of ligament damage in his knee, his season would almost certainly have come to an end before it began. Instead, he was able to return to the field on an accelerated timeline.

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Brian Robinson

(Getty Images)

How Brian Robinson overcame ‘the lowest point I’ve ever been in my life’

Of course, just because Robinson avoided significant injuries as a result of the shooting doesn’t mean that it wasn’t difficult for him to make his return. He explained that the five-week lay-off in the early stages of his rookie season weighed on him both physically and mentally.

“That was probably the lowest point I’ve ever been in my life,” Robinson told reporters of his feelings after the shooting at a news conference on Wednesday, Oct. 5, per Yahoo Sports.

“My passion for this game runs so deep,” he later added. “I never thought I’d be in a situation where I had to question or be questioned about if I could return to playing football.”

Questions about that possibility didn’t last long. In the early stages of his recovery, Robinson was told that he would, in fact, be able to play again. It was just a matter of how soon.

“Once the doctors told me I’d be able to play ball again, my mind automatically clicked into what I needed to do to get myself back on the football field,” Robinson said.

Still, Washington didn’t want to rush him back into action. The Commanders put Robinson on the non-football injury (NFI) list following the shooting which allowed him to sit out the first four games of the season and avoid rushing back from the injury.

At the end of that month, he was able to return to the field and get into game action against the Titans.

MORE: Brian Robinson details the “lowest point in my life” during comeback from shooting

Brian Robinson comeback timeline

Aug. 28 — Robinson is shot twice in an attempted robbery in Washington D.C. at about 6 p.m. ET. He is transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is said to be in stable condition. Coach Ron Rivera visits him and says that the running back is in “good spirits.”

Aug. 29 — Robinson undergoes minor surgery to address the wounds he sustained in the shooting. He provides an update to fans on Instagram saying that the procedure “went well.” Still, there is “no timeline” on his return, per Rivera, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that he is “not ruled out” for the season.

Aug. 30 — Robinson is released from the hospital. It is revealed that he suffered no structural damage as a result of the shooting, per ESPN.

Sept. 1 — Washington officially places Robinson on the NFI list as a result of his injuries. He will miss at least the team’s first four games of the season. Rivera notes that the commanders have no plans to rush him back to action because they are “making sure it was about him recovering, not just physically but mentally” from the incident.

Sept. 7 — Just over a week after the shooting, Rivera reveals that Robinson is no longer using crutches. He also says that swelling in the 23-year-old’s lower body has gone down “an awful lot.”

Sept. 11 — ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that there is a “realistic chance” that Robinson will return to the Commanders in Week 5. That marks the shortest possible stint on the NFI list for the rookie.

Sept. 14 — Robinson worked off to the side at Commanders practice in Week 2. Reporters said he was participating in agility drills in what marked a milestone in his recovery.

Sept. 23 — Rivera cautions that a timetable for return has not yet been set for Robinson but lauds him for his continued progress in his recovery: “We’re liking what we see; each time we ramp something up he’s had no ill effects so far.”

Sept. 25 — Robinson is spotted working out before Washington’s Week 3 game:

Sept. 28 — Robinson stretches with his teammates at practice. He is one week away from being eligible to come off the NFI list.

Oct. 2 — NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Robinson is expected to be activated ahead of Week 5.

Oct. 3 — Robinson is officially designated to return from the NFI list.

Oct. 4 — Ron Rivera says there is “a very good chance” that Robinson plays in Week 5 against the Titans.

Oct. 5 — Robinson officially returns to Commanders practice. That officially opens a 21-day window within which he must return to the active roster or be ruled out for the season. He is able to practice every day for Washington.

Oct. 5 — Robinson opens up about his journey back to the field after the shooting. “It was probably one of the lowest points in my life,” he says.

Oct. 9 — Robinson is active for Washington’s game against the Titans. He receives a standing ovation after entering the field and enters the field to 50 Cent’s “Many Men.”

Robinson serves as the primary between-the-tackles running back for the team. He generates 22 yards on nine carries while splitting time in the backfield with J.D. McKissic and Antonio Gibson.

Oct. 13 — Robinson is set to start for the Commanders over Gibson for Washington’s “Thursday Night Football” game against the Bears. This comes four days after the rookie made his season debut.

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