Why the running back worked out by the Packers has bounced around the NFL
James Robinson was a clear starting running back for two years to begin his NFL career. As a rookie, the undrafted player had more than 1,300 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns for the Jacksonville Jaguars, making the All-Rookie Team. In 2021, he was still a solid player, almost reaching 1,000 scrimmage yards again. This […]
James Robinson was a clear starting running back for two years to begin his NFL career. As a rookie, the undrafted player had more than 1,300 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns for the Jacksonville Jaguars, making the All-Rookie Team. In 2021, he was still a solid player, almost reaching 1,000 scrimmage yards again. This week, on Monday, the running back worked out for the Green Bay Packers. It was another chapter of the player from Rockford, Illinois, trying to establish himself in one place again.
Things started to change in week 16 of 2021, against the New York Jets, when Robinson tore his Achilles tendon.
"I would say it's not ideal. I don't really like moving around like that,” Robinson said when he was with the New England Patriots earlier this year. "It was kind of hard to find my role, really, and do what I can for the team that I was on."
In 2021, before the injury, Robinson had still been a productive player because first-round pick Travis Etienne also suffered a foot injury and didn't play. The competition for snaps in 2022 would happen anyway, and his serious injury complicated it even more. After seven games, he was traded mid-season to the New York Jets. The performance last season wasn't as good, and he didn't re-sign in New York.
This year, he signed a non-guaranteed contract with the New England Patriots in March, but was released in June. According to Jeff Howe, from The Athletic, injuries were the reason behind the decision. He spent one month during training camp with the New York Giants, but didn't make the 53-man roster.
"Coming off the Achilles, there was a lot of talk of 'he's not going to be this. He's not going to be that,'" Robinson mentioned. "But I felt like the start of that year, when I came back, I was doing pretty fine. There hasn't been a problem with it since."
For James Robinson, the path to be what he once was isn't easy. Before the injury, he had 1,837 rushing yards in 404 attempts (4.54 yards per carry). Since, he's had 425 yards in 110 attempts (3.86 yards per carry).
The Packers haven't signed James Robinson after the workout, and it was probably a regular scouting practice. Green Bay hasn't had much production from their running backs besides Aaron Jones, as AJ Dillon, Patrick Taylor, and Emanuel Wilson all have failed to be efficient runners. If they decide to look for an option moving forward, Robinson has a decent upside if the physical situation is finally in a good place.
Practice squad move
On Tuesday, the Green Bay Packers made a practice squad addition. The team signed linebacker/safety hybrid Christian Young to an open spot.
Young is an undrafted rookie from University of Arizona. He spent training camp and preseason with the Seattle Seahawks, but was released and didn't sign back to their practice squad either.
In college, he was a versatile defensive back. The majority of his snaps came as a box safety, but he also played as free safety, and to a lesser extent, as a slot corner and even on the boundary. However, the Packers listed him as an off-ball linebacker. He is probably a special teamer at best — at Arizona, he had more than 400 special teams snaps.
It’s curious how much the Packers and the Seahawks share a vision for the type they want at linebacker. Before the 2020 draft, it was reported that Green Bay was interested in Texas Tech defender Jordyn Brooks, grading him ahead of Kenneth Murray and Patrick Queen, who were higher for the consensus. The Seahawks ended up getting Brook in the first round, and Queen was still available on the board.
