With a little over three minutes to go in the second quarter of the Commanders' Week 5 win against the Cleveland Browns, Brian Robinson Jr. punched the ball in for a two-yard touchdown and celebrated by bearhugging the Commanders mascot Major Tuddy.
"I was just imagining it was her," the running back said with a laugh.
"Her" is Robinson's grandmother, Angela Porter. No offense to Major Tuddy -- Robinson just had this special person in his life in the back of his head all day.
"2 tuddys for granny today it's her 68th birthday and she is officially breast cancer free! #interceptcancer," he posted on his social media channels after Washington's 34-13 win against the Browns.
The running back's two-touchdown day was also the Commanders' Crucial Catch game. Every year, teams across the league host a Crucial Catch game to raise awareness around early detection and risk reduction and honor cancer survivors and those currently battling cancer. For Robinson, the 2024 Crucial Catch game hit home in a way it hasn't quite before.
It was around three months ago that Robinson got the call from his mom telling him that Porter, was diagnosed with breast cancer. The news was a devastating blow for Robinson, as the two had always been close.
"She was like my mom when my mom wasn't there," Robinson said. "Whenever my mom was at work, I was at my grandma's house. I probably spent more time at my granny's house then at home in my earlier years when my mom used to work a lot. She held the responsibility of my mom most of the time and I look at her the same way, honestly."
Concerned about the disease's potential, doctors moved quickly to treat Porter's cancer, and an emergency surgery produced the results they were hoping for.
"She went back [to the doctor] the week before the [Crucial Catch] game and had a checkup. They just told her that they had surgically removed everything," Robinson said. "She's been doing good, driving herself back and forth to treatment. She has a clear headspace just knowing that the surgery went."
Angela was unable to make it to Northwest Stadium to watch her grandson light it up during Week 5 because she is undergoing maintenance treatments. You can bet she was parked in front of the TV, though; making sure she sees Robinson's games has been habit for many years. Robinson called Porter in Tuscaloosa after the game and his social media shoutout.
"She was excited because she had seen that it [his post] drew national attention and stuff like that. Obviously, she wasn't expecting that, and I know it made her feel good to just get acknowledged for what she's overcome on a national level thanks to her favorite grandson," Robinson said with a laugh.
Porter will continue her treatments for the next month or so. After which, there's little doubt she'll be looking to go see her "favorite grandson" in person as he continues to string together an impressive season.
