The Washington Commanders and running back Brian Robinson Jr. have emerged as a potential trade separation before the start of the NFL season. Robinson is entering the final year of his contract with the Commanders. To keep that option open, Washington has made a decision ahead of its preseason game Monday night against the Bengals.

Robinson, a third-round pick by Washington in 2022 who’s entering the final year of his rookie contract, had 799 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in 14 games last season, but it seems like offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury may want to move in a different direction in the backfield.

Ekeler, McNichols and Rodriguez are still under contract in Washington, but the Commanders also have an interesting rookie in Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who was a seventh-round pick out of Arizona. Eligibility issues held Merritt to just one game played last season, in which he rushed 13 times for 106 yards and one touchdown.