After working out James Robinson earlier this month, the Packers will end the young running back’s stay in free agency. The former Jaguars starter is signing with the Pack, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.
Green Bay will be Robinson’s third destination this year. The former UDFA success story signed with the Patriots and Giants this offseason, but neither stay led to any regular-season playing time. Robinson has not played since a short stint with the Jets last season.
The December 2021 Achilles tear Robinson sustained sidetracked his career. Although Robinson made it back in time for the start of last season, the Jaguars quickly determined Travis Etienne was their preferred back. the Jags traded Robinson to the Jets in October 2022, and the two-year Jacksonville starter did not see much run in New York. After starting five games for the Jags last season, Robinson only accumulated 29 carries for a Jets team that had lost Breece Hall for the season. The Jets waived Robinson this offseason.
The Patriots took out three injury waivers on Robinson upon signing him this year, with the protection surrounding the surgically repaired left Achilles and both knees. The Pats waived Robinson in June. He then spent training camp with the Giants, who kept Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell and Eric Gray as their Saquon Barkley backups.
Robinson’s 1,414 scrimmage yards in 2020 remains an NFL record for a rookie UDFA. The Illinois State alum reached that total despite missing the Jags’ final two games. During the Urban Meyer-run Jags season the following year, Robinson finished with 989 scrimmage yards in 14 games. He joins a Packers backfield that has rarely been at full strength this year. Aaron Jones has missed three games, being a late scratch with a hamstring injury in Week 5. The Packers have used practice squad elevation Patrick Taylor as AJ Dillon‘s backup in those games. Taylor has taken 11 handoffs this season; rookie UDFA Emanuel Wilson has logged five carries.
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