Brian Robinson Jr., a rookie running back for the Washington Commanders, was shot multiple times after he was subject to “an attempted robbery or carjacking,” the NFL announced on Aug. 28.
“We have been made aware that Brian Robinson Jr. was the victim of an attempted armed robbery or carjacking in Washington, D.C.,” the commanders said in a statement upon learning of the incident.
“He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is currently being treated at the hospital, where team officials are on-site with him,” the team added. “We ask that you please respect Brian’s privacy at this time.”
The 23-year-old, who was drafted in the third round out of the Alabama Crimson Tide in this year’s NFL Draft, was taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery.
“Surgery went well!” he wrote along a picture that was shared on social media.
An update from Brian
???? @BrianR_4 pic.twitter.com/xhfYRXtSoO
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 29, 2022
Dustin Sternbeck, a spokesman for the Metro Police Department in Washington, said officials responded to a shooting shortly before 6 p.m. ET in the 1000 block of H Street NE and located Robinson suffering from “two gunshot wounds to [his] lower extremities,” Tom Pelissero, an NFL reporter, shared on Twitter.
Sternbeck added that two suspects fled the scene. A firearm was recovered by police a short distance from where the incident occurred.
Ron Rivera, head coach for the Commanders, said Robinson is “in good spirits,” noting that the running back would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support.
“He wants his teammates to know he appreciates them all for reaching out and he loves them all [and] will be back soon doing what he does best,” Rivera said on Twitter.
A spokesman for the Commanders told ESPN that the team’s president, Jason Wright, as well as co-owners Dan and Tanya Snyder joined Rivera when he visited Robinson at the hospital.
Over the weekend, Robinson traveled with the team for its preseason finale at Baltimore, but he didn’t play that match.
Rivera told reporters on Monday that he has no specific timeline for Robinson’s return, but the running back will return to the team upon his release from the hospital.
“It’s really just about the healing process,” Rivera said, NFL.com reported. “Then, once he’s well enough to get out on the field, then the doctors will have to clear him obviously and then we’ll go from there. But like I said, everything’s been very positive so far.”
