Former Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa and Alabama standout Brian Robinson Jr. has been Washington’s leading rusher in each of his two NFL seasons, even though he was shot on the day after the Commanders’ final preseason game of his rookie campaign.

Robinson was shot in the hip and knee when he was accosted by two armed teens seeking to steal his Dodge Challenger Hellcat in Washington, according to District of Columbia police, who reported Robinson wrested a gun away from one of the boys before being shot by the other.

After being shot, Robinson was taken to a hospital, where he had surgery before being released the next day. The injuries caused Robinson to miss the first four games of the 2022 season.

Since his return, Robinson has run for 1,530 yards and seven touchdowns on 383 carries and caught 45 passes for 428 yards and five touchdowns in 27 games. But that doesn’t mean he was fully recovered.

“This is the best I’ve felt since probably right after I got drafted here,” Robinson said during the Commanders’ offseason program, “… because it’s a work in progress to get back to where I am now from where I came from in my first year.”

After a 4-13 record in 2023, Washington has a new coach for 2024, with Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator and former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn taking the reins. Robinson is working with a new offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, and a new running-backs coach, Anthony Lynn. Both men have been NFL head coaches. And the Commanders have a new quarterback after choosing LSU’s Jayden Daniels at No. 2 in the NFL Draft on April 25.

“We get to set the tone for what we want for this year within the staff, within the locker room, within this whole organization,” Robinson said. “We get to set the tone for how we want this year to go based off of just how we put the past behind us and attack what’s in front of us. As long as guys continue to be where their feet are and attack what’s in front of them, we’ll continue to make strides in the right direction.”

Last season, the Commanders finished 25th in points and 24th in yards among the NFL’s 32 teams. In Kingsbury’s four seasons as Arizona’s head coach, the Cardinals never finished that low in either category.

“It’s going to be a little bit faster as far as comparing it to the offense we had last year,” Robinson said. “I don’t really want to go too much into detail as far as, like, what kind of play calls we will have. I just know the tempo will be faster compared to last year. We had a huddle-type of offense. This offense will be more no-huddle.”

The season before Robinson joined Washington, Antonio Gibson rushed for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns on 258 carries. In the next two seasons, Gibson had 811 yards and four touchdowns on 214 rushing attempts while catching 95 passes for 742 yards and four touchdowns.

Gibson is now with the New England Patriots, but the Commanders added running back Austin Ekeler in free agency this offseason.

Ekeler led the NFL in touchdowns with 20 in 2021 and 18 in 2022. Last season, Ekeler missed three games, and his stats dropped to 628 yards and five touchdowns on 179 rushing attempts and 436 yards and one touchdown on 51 receptions.

Ekeler said he didn’t see himself and Robinson as competitors for playing time, but different parts of the game plan.

“We’re different body types, different assets, different ways,” Ekeler said during Washington’s mandatory minicamp. “He’s a little bit younger. I got a little bit more tape. My strengths are well-known. B-Rob’s still getting himself in his footing going into Year 3 here. …

“He’s a big guy, and so he’s going to have those strengths to his advantage. He’s going to be able to catch the ball. He’s going to be a strong runner coming downhill. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have as much wiggle, but if you compare him to me, I’m a jitterbug out there.”

The Commanders completed their offseason program last week. Washington’s veteran players are scheduled to report for training camp on July 23 in Ashburn, Virginia. The Commanders kick off their three-game preseason schedule against the New York Jets on Aug. 10 and start the regular season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 8.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.