The Washington Commanders are 1-3 after a brutal loss in London to the Indianapolis Colts, in which quarterback Marcus Mariota got hurt, and the AFC South club shut down offensive coordinator David Blough's backfield.
Worse yet, the next night, D.C. fans had to watch running back Brian Robinson Jr. score three touchdowns for the Atlanta Falcons.
The Commanders traded Robinson last summer after he led the backfield in each of the previous three seasons. He was solid but never spectacular, and Washington believed he was replaceable after seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt emerged.
Commanders shouldn't regret trading Brian Robinson Jr., even if he's making them look bad
It was perfectly sensible at the time. But now, it's not aging as well as it looked at first.
Running backs named B. Robinson accounted for five touchdowns for the Atlanta Falcons in their Monday Night Football trouncing of the New Orleans Saints. For the 2022 third-round pick, it was his first three-score game.
Then, just for the icing on the cake for Washington fans, wide receiver Jahan Dotson also found the end zone.
It was a class picture night for the Commanders' 2022 NFL Draft group, with the additional reminder that both Robinson and Dotson were traded to Washington for the pick that became Saints star wide receiver Chris Olave.
But that's enough indulging in self-pity over what could have been.
The fact is that Robinson is in the best situation of his NFL career. He was the lead back in Washington. Now, he gets his number called when Bijan Robinson, arguably the best back in football, needs a breather.
Of course, Robinson looks good when he has a solid offensive line, and he's facing defenses already tired after Atlanta's unquestioned RB1 wears them down. Still, the Commanders must be shaking their heads at why they can't get their own run game to look like that.
Commanders can only look inward to solve their RB problem, and there's no easy answer
Croskey-Merritt has been a disappointment this season. Free agent addition Rachaad White has been a disappointment, especially as a receiving weapon. Sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen hasn't made much of an impact yet. And Robert Henry Jr., who was a revelation in Washington's preseason opener, was just plucked off the practice squad by the Seattle Seahawks.
The Commanders signed 31-year-old Austin Ekeler a year removed from a torn Achilles, and he looked like their best back against the Colts.
That's a problem.
The offensive line can be held responsible for much of the struggles. They're not creating holes for rushers, who've been repeatedly stuffed when running up the gut. But Washington's backs also just aren't high-end talents who can overcome those types of situations.
Perhaps the potential return of quarterback Jayden Daniels, with his dual-threat abilities, will open up the run game again. Washington had better hope so, because nobody else is coming to save them.
In the meantime, Commanders fans get to watch the guy they traded flourish in his new home.
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