Kyle Shanahan knows how to get the most out of running backs. It’s something he learned from his father, Mike. The San Francisco 49ers head coach has one of the NFL’s best, Christian McCaffrey. However, injuries wiped out most of McCaffrey’s 2024 season, and Shanahan knew he couldn’t go into the 2025 season without a capable backup.

On Friday, the 49ers sent a 2026 sixth-round NFL draft choice to the Washington Commanders for running back Brian Robinson Jr. Robinson entered training camp as Washington’s projected starting back for the fourth consecutive season, but the emergence of others made Robinson expendable.

When the 49ers traded for Robinson, some wondered what that meant for promising second-year running back Isaac Guerendo. Guerendo flashed for the Niners last season, but suffered a shoulder injury earlier in training camp, leaving San Francisco looking for more running back help.

Shanahan confirmed Robinson would serve as McCaffrey’s primary backup in 2025.

“We brought him here to be our two back,” Shanahan said via Kyle Madson of Niners Wire. “Always been a big fan of Brian. Loved him coming out of college. He’s done really well going against him, and we were pumped that he was available and we were pumped that we were able to get him.”

If given an opportunity, Robinson should thrive in Shanahan’s offense. As for the Commanders, they’ll move forward with a running back group consisting of Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez Jr., rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols.

In three seasons with Washington, Robinson rushed for 2,329 yards with 20 total touchdowns, including 15 on the ground.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Former Commanders RB Brian Robinson’s new role with 49ers confirmed