The James Robinson comeback tour hit another bump in the road, as the Saints cut the veteran in the leadup to the 53-man roster deadline. An undrafted free agent in 2020, Robinson started his career by usurping first-round pick Leonard Fournette and recording 1,070 rushing yards as a rrookie. Following another solid season as the lone bright spot on Urban Meyer’s Jaguars, the wheels quickly fell off the wagon. Robinson ruptured his Achilles late in the 2021 season and spent the past few years bouncing across multiple rosters.
After increasingly short stints with the Jets, Patriots, Giants, and Packers, the Saints cut could be the end of the road for James Robinson. Historically speaking, Achilles injuries are a kiss of death for running backs, and Robinson has yet to prove he can return to form following the injury. However, if any teams are willing to give him another chance, it’s the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers.
Ravens, Panthers Could Target James Robinson After Saints Cut
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the league’s most ferocious backs in Derrick Henry. The rest of the depth chart, however, could use some help. With Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in Los Angeles, the Ravens will need Justice Hill and Rasheen Ali to support Henry while 2023 breakout Keaton Mitchell works his way back from injury. Hill played well in small doses last year, but the veteran is better off as a special teams player, while Rasheen Ali is a completely unproven fifth-round pick. James Robinson might not be a long-term solution, but the recently cut veteran could make life easier for this backfield.
Derrick Henry can handle an insane workload, but nobody can manage 100% of the team’s carries. James Robinson won’t need to play like his 2020 self to carve up a hole, he’ll just need to handle three to four touches per game until Mitchell is healthy. This shouldn’t be asking too much of the former undrafted free agent, and he should find open rushing lanes while defenses focus in on Lamar Jackson’s rushing ability.
More Short-Term Help
The Panthers have their long-term answer at running back in second-round pick Jonathon Brooks. However, they still need to find a short-term solution. Brooks tore his ACL during his final collegiate season and is still working his way back to the field. Chuba Hubbard will start in his absence with Miles Sanders easing his workload. This is bad news for Carolina, as Hubbard is nothing more than a career backup and Sanders was one of the league’s least efficient backs last year. James Robinson might not be any better, but it can’t hurt to kick the tires on the cut division rival.
Just like with the Ravens, the Panthers would likely cut James Robinson once Jonathon Brooks returns to the field. However, until that point, somebody must handle rushing duties when Hubbard needs a breather. No matter how washed up Robinson might be, it’s hard to imagine him being worse than Sanders was last year.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports
