Colts host former 1,000-yard rusher for tryout amid Jonathan Taylor drama
With an organization-appointed trade deadline having come and gone, Jonathan Taylor remains a member of the Indianapolis Colts for now. However, despite Taylor's inability to find a trade partner, the Colts still have glaring questions in their backfield. On Monday, the team took steps towards addressing that.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Indianapolis worked out three running backs, headlined by former Jacksonville Jaguars 1,000-yard rusher James Robinson. Jaret Patterson and Carlos Washington were the two other running backs to try out. Patterson played the past two seasons as a member of the Washington Commanders while Washington spent training camp with the Atlanta Falcons after rushing for 15 touchdowns at Southeastern Louisiana University last season.
Robinson, 25, had a meteoric rise to NFL prominence as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Unfortunately, his fall-off has been even more rapid.
Robinson began his career in stellar fashion, leading all rookie running backs with 1,070 rushing yards and setting the NFL record for most yards from scrimmage by an undrafted rookie with 1,414. Robinson's production took a slight step back in 2021, but he still compiled 989 yards from scrimmage and set a career-high with 4.7 yards per carry (YPC) prior to tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 16 of the season.
In 2022, Robinson took a backseat to Travis Etienne in Jacksonville's backfield rotation, eventually being dealt to the New York Jets in a midseason trade. After rushing for just 85 yards in four games with Gang Green, the Jets declined to tender Robinson, making him a free agent.
Robinson went on to sign a two-year deal with the New England Patriots in the offseason but failed to make it to the start of training camp before being cut. He caught on with the New York Giants in July, flashing some in the preseason by leading all rushers with 74 yards. However, his efforts weren't enough to earn him a spot on the team's final 53-man roster.
Taylor was placed on the PUP list on August 29, meaning he will miss at least four games to begin the season. In his absence, the Colts have been noncommital in naming a true replacement for Taylor, instead preparing to divvy up their workload among the trio of Zack Moss, Deon Jackson and rookie Evan Hull.
“I think it’s running back-by-committee,” head coach Shane Steichen said Monday, via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. “Whoever’s got the hot hand, let ‘em ride a little bit.”
Moss impressed over the final four games of 2022, rushing for 334 yards — seventh-most in the NFL during that span. However, that shouldn't stop the Colts from adding talent to their backfield. Jackson owns a career rushing average of just 3.3 YPC, while Hull is an unproven commodity.
Robinson may never recapture his pre-injury form. Yet, the Colts would be wise to take a low-risk flyer on him in the off-chance that does.
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