Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson has been ruled out for the team's Week 10 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Robinson, who missed Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens with a knee injury and last week's 27-22 win over the New York Giants with a hamstring issue, was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday but was absent on Friday. Robinson leads the team in rushing yards (461) and rushing touchdowns (6).
Washington found a way to operate without Robinson against the Giants through a mixture of Jayden Daniels, Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr., who paced the team with 52 yards on 11 carries as part of a 149-yard day for the Burgundy & Gold. The quartet of players had a combined 38 attempts with a 3.9-yard average.
The Commanders will likely employ a similar strategy in Week 10, but the Steelers present a different challenge than the Giants, who went into the Week 9 game allowing 141.8 yards per contest. Pittsburgh has been much stouter against the run, averaging a fourth-best 90.5 yards allowed per game. Only three teams -- the Indianapolis Colts, Giants and Dallas Cowboys -- have rushed more than 100 yards against them.
There are also the implications of moving Rodriguez to the active roster to consider. Per league rules, a practice squad player can only be elevated three times before he must be signed to a team's active roster. Rodriguez has already been elevated three times. So, if the Commanders need Rodriguez's services on Sunday, they will need to cut a player to make room for him.
Kicker Austin Seibert will also be listed as questionable for Sunday as he deals with an injury in his right hip. Seibert did not participate on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that Seibert did kick on Friday but also that the team brought in kickers for a tryout. Offensive tackle Andrew is also questionable with a shoulder injury
Newly-acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore will not be available for Sunday. Lattimore, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, also has to get up to speed on the Commanders' defense before he can contribute.
"We're just trying to engage him as quickly as we can, so that when it does become go time, there's not a lag there," Quinn said.
The Commanders will also be without Cornelius Lucas for a second straight game as he deals with an ankle injury. Rookie Brandon Coleman got every snap at left tackle for the first time this season and performed well in the contest, earning a team-high 89.2 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus for allowing zero pressures. Colson Yankoff, who was added to the injury report on Thursday with a hamstring injury, has also been ruled out.
The remaining players on Washington's injury report, including Dorance Armstrong, Tyler Biadasz, Clelin Ferrell, Dante Fowler Jr. and Noah Igbinoghene will be available for Sunday's game.
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