Giants sign veteran RB James Robinson

Robinson’s career has taken a much different turn than his rookie year would have suggested. He ran for 1,070 yards with the Jaguars in 2020, but the former UDFA has seen his usage and production decline since that point. He totaled 989 scrimmage yards in 2021, but the presence of a healthy Travis Etienne led him elsewhere last season.

Jacksonville traded Robinson to the Jets in October, a move which allowed him a chance to carve out a new role after Breece Hall suffered an ACL tear. The former played as a backup across four games in New York, recording just 85 scoreless yards on 29 carries (good for an average of 2.9 per rush). With Hall expected to be healthy in time for Week 1, Robinson again found himself on the move at the start of the new league year.

The Patriots inked him to a two-year deal in March, but injury problems led to his release just a few months later. Now, Robinson will aim to remain healthy during training camp and in doing so earn a role on the team’s RB depth chart. That is something that very much remains up in the air at this point, of course, with Saquon Barkley not currently being under contract.

As one of three backs who were unable to come to terms on a deal before the franchise tag deadline, Barkley has yet to sign his one-year tender. He has recently gone public about the possibility of not only holding out during training camp but also skipping regular season games. His absence would deal a major blow to New York’s ground game, one which depended in very large part on the former No. 2 pick remaining healthy and putting together a career-year last season.

Robinson could help contribute with or without Barkley in the fold, as the list of other Giants backs includes veteran Matt Breida, 2021 sixth-rounder Gary Brightwell and fifth-round rookie Eric Gray. All attention will remain on Barkley, but Robinson could establish himself as an effective rotational rushing option if he is able to remain healthy in his latest New York endeavor.