Due to Injuries, Packers Re-Signing Running Back

With Aaron Jones coming back from a knee injury, the Green Bay Packers are re-signing running back James Robinson, a source told Packer Central.

The Packers have openings on their 53-man roster and practice squad; the source didn’t say to which Robinson was added.

This will be Robinson’s third appearance on the team’s rosters. He spent a few weeks on their practice squad before he was released on Nov. 6. Then, in the wake of Jones’ knee injury against the Chargers, he was signed to the practice squad and promoted the 53-man roster for the Thanksgiving game at Detroit.

Robinson didn’t play against the Lions and was released on Monday.

Now, as was the case last week, he’s back to provide depth in the backfield for Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

AJ Dillon will be the lead back, just as he was last week. Against Detroit, Dillon played 29 snaps and got 17 touches while Patrick Taylor played 27 snaps and got four touches.

Asked on Monday if the release of Robinson was a signal that Jones could be ready, coach Matt LaFleur said: “Oh, we’ll see. I think we’re a long way from that coming to fruition.”

The Packers carried Jones, Dillon and undrafted rookie Emanuel Wilson on their opening 53-man roster. At Monday’s practice, none of the three were on the field. Along with Jones, Wilson is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and Dillon was riding an exercise bike due to an undisclosed injury; he was questionable for the Detroit game with a groin injury.

On Monday, Taylor and practice-squad rookie Ellis Merriweather were the only running backs on the practice field.

Could Merriweather, who replaced Robinson on the practice squad on Nov. 6, play if asked?

“I feel like especially the way that he’s worked, not just physically but just in his preparation,” running backs coach Ben Sirmans said on Monday. 

“We threw him in there today like during a 2-minute drill today and he was good with all the signals, making the right [decisions], picking up the right guys in protection. So, I definitely think he could go in if need be. Plus, he’s real excited to go in. That’s the other part of it.”

On Tuesday, the Packers signed tight end Joel Wilson to their practice squad.