The San Francisco 49ers are not going to retain backup running back Brian Robinson Jr. He has signed with the Atlanta Falcons, which means the Niners are going to have to find a new backup behind Christian McCaffrey next season.
While Robinson departing may not feel like a major loss, it could impact the Niners more than they think. It's pretty remarkable, given all of the injuries San Francisco sustained last season, the only two running backs who carried the ball in the regular season were McCaffrey and Robinson. That changed in the playoff game versus Seattle when rookie Jordan James got some garbage-time carries, but it is still remarkable.
Just think about the season prior when the Niners were having to turn to the fourth or fifth man on the depth chart by the end of the season. It's a miracle both McCaffrey and Robinson remained so durable and dependable.
Robinson didn't put up crazy numbers by any stretch. He rushed for 400 yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns while also making some surprising contributions in the kick-return game. His value was in his reliability, though, and the fact he was trusted enough to give McCaffrey a breather every now and then.
Now, Jordan James, Isaac Guerendo, and Patrick Taylor Jr. are the running backs on the depth chart other than McCaffrey.
The 49ers could roll with that group going into next season, but there are some veterans they could scoop up in free agency to fill the void left by Robinson.
Austin Ekeler
Maybe the Niners can bring in another former Washington Commanders running back to backup McCaffrey. Austin Ekeler has always been a nifty running back who, like McCaffrey is dangerous as a pass catcher and as a rusher.
Ekeler is coming off a torn Achilles he suffered early last season. If he is healthy, it may not be a bad idea to bring him in as a depth piece to see if he has anything left in the tank.
Ameer Abdullah
While running back depth was not an issue in the 2025 regular season, in the preseason running backs were going down left and right. That is what forced the Niners to trade for Robinson and they also briefly brought in veteran Ameer Abdullah.
Abdullah ended up spending some time with the Indianapolis Colts in 2025 and rushed for 60 yards on 14 carries. He may not be a bad guy to bring back so San Francisco has an extra body.
Raheem Mostert
The Niners may already be in a nostalgic mood after bringing back linebacker Dre Greenlaw, so perhaps a reunion with Raheem Mostert may also be in order.
He spent last season as a backup with the Las Vegas Raiders and carried the ball 22 times for 104 yards. His best days are behind him, but it would be nice to see Mostert back in a 49ers uniform.
Losing Robinson could hurt more than expected, so the 49ers should add some depth just in case.