WASHINGTON — From surviving a tornado to being shot, Washington Commanders Running Back Brian Robinson Jr. has seen it all.
While he survived two life-threatening events, he wouldn’t go so far as to say he is invincible.
“Never feel like that, ya know, anybody can be touched and I just feel like I’m supposed to be here, definitely a blessing ya know, made it out of those situations but I really feel like I’m here for a reason, ya know, I just want to live for my purpose.”
Robinson was shot twice in the right leg as part of an attempted robbery and carjacking in DC in 2022.
A 15-year-old boy was later connected to the shooting, as well as the death of another teen in Northeast.
Robinson says going through everything has caused him to appreciate things more.
"[I'm] seeing life a lot differently, appreciating the small things in life itself. Having deal with close-to-death situations it makes you appreciate life so much more afterwards,” he said. “I appreciate every day I get to wake up and do what I do.”
Speaking of what he does, Robinson describes his running back style in three ways: patient, hard-nosed, and a physical player.
Right now, the Commanders are struggling after losing three games in a row. Most recently to the Chicago Bears in a 40-20 game.
Robinson says it can be frustrating when you don't get the touches that you're used to getting but he is going to keep doing what he has to do to stay on the same page with his team.
“I always want to be involved in the game, always find a way to get the ball in my hands," Robinson said.
The team goes up against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. When asked if the vibe ahead of the game was positive, he said the vibe is positive going into every week.
"We try to make sure we create great energy every week, ya know," he said. "That's the way this game goes, you got to have that type of mindset to just play this game. So we feel pretty good going into the Falcons game, we feel like we got a great game plan. It's time we just start attacking it right now."
Ultimately, Robinson hopes to flip the script for the remainder of the season.
"I know a lot of things new, you know, in our offense, coach, players in different positions. I just want to see us kind of bring it all together. I feel like we just kind of have slow starts and once we get rolling, we play really good," he said. "So, I just want to see us flip the script and really just put the talent of our offense on full display as much as we can give our team the opportunity to win games."
For many players, there is an "ah ha" moment, when they realize they've made it to the NFL. For Robinson, he says he doesn't have just one "ah ha" moment but instead has it every time he is on that field.
"Just being out on the field and, ya know, seeing other great players that have established themselves in the league and just being, ya know, playing alongside those guys, playing against those guys there's a lot of different ways and reasons for you to feel like that," he explained. "I'm in the NFL. Getting that first hand-off and going against those defenders, ya know, ya feel it."
And while Robinson may be known as an athlete, he says many wouldn't know about how is also a nerd.
"Like when it comes to video games," he laughed. "I play a lot of COD, Warzone and stuff like that."
"There are things we gotta do better," Rivera said.