Former 1,000-yard rusher’s career in limbo after release by Giants
Running back James Robinson's fall from grace continued Tuesday when he was released by the New York Giants. The move, originally reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, spells the end to a short-lived tenure in East Rutherford and further blurs the future for a player once perceived as one of the league's brightest talents at his position.
Three years ago, Robinson burst onto the scene with the Jacksonville Jaguars, making former No. 4 overall pick Leonard Fournette expendable. An undrafted free agent out of Illinois State, Robinson dazzled as a rookie, leading all first-year rushers in yards with 1,070 and tying for the fifth-highest rushing total in the NFL.
Despite his brilliance, Jacksonville invested at the position in the offseason, using a 2021 first-round pick on Clemson's Travis Etienne. Robinson's usage took a slight step back in his second season before suffering a career-altering Achilles injury in Week 16. He finished the season with a respectable 767 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, notching a career-high 4.7 yards per carry.
Robinson returned for Week 1 of the 2022 season. However, he looked far from the same explosive playmaker he had been.
After Robinson took a backseat to Etienne in the pecking order, Jacksonville dealt him to the Jets in an in-season trade. New York hoped to ease the loss of injured rookie RB Breece Hall, but Robinson rushed for only 85 yards in four games (2.9 yards per carry).
Despite his failure to make an impact in New York, the New England Patriots took a flyer on Robinson this offseason, signing the running back to a two-year, $8M deal. Penciled in as the replacement to the departed Damian Harris in New England's backfield, Robinson was released prior to training camp.
The Giants scooped up Robinson while in the midst of their contract dispute with starter Saquon Barkley.
Despite a solid closeout to the preseason where Robinson rushed for 55 yards on 10 carries against the Jets, he didn't earn a roster spot. Now, at just 25, Robinson finds his career in limbo.
The days of Robinson leading a backfield appear to be in the distant past. Still, if Robinson's performance in the preseason finale is any indication, he seems to be trending in the right direction health-wise.
More than a year and a half removed from his Achilles injury, Robinson could pique the interest of a few running back-needy teams on the open market.
Jonathan Taylor's days in Indianapolis appear to be numbered as he seeks a trade from the Colts. The conglomerate of fallback options in Indianapolis (Zack Moss, Jake Funk, Deon Jackson and rookie Evan Hull) could lead the Colts to seek a higher-upside option. In Cleveland, Jerome Ford continues to battle a hip injury as he looks to replace Kareem Hunt as Nick Chubb's primary backup with the Browns.
The Dallas Cowboys could also be a dark-horse suitor for Robinson as they look to fill the void left behind by Ezekiel Elliott as a short-yardage/goal-line back.
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