.jpg) Robinson with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Running back | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1998-08-09)August 9, 1998 (age 27) Rockford, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 219 lb (99 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Rockford Lutheran | ||||||||||||||
| College | Illinois State (2016–2019) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2020: undrafted | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||||||
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James Robinson (born August 9, 1998) is an American professionalfootballrunning back. He playedcollege football for theIllinois State Redbirds and signed with theJacksonville Jaguars as anundrafted free agent in 2020, and was traded to theNew York Jets in 2022. In 2020, Robinson broke theNational Football League (NFL) record for most scrimmage yards of any undrafted rookie.
Robinson was born and grew up inRockford, Illinois. He attendedRockford Lutheran High School, where he played basketball andfootball. As a senior, he rushed 2,461 yards and 44 touchdowns and was named Class 4A All-State.[1] Robinson setIHSA career records with 9,045 rushing yards and 158 rushing touchdowns.[2]
Robinson started at Illinois State University as a true freshman in 2016 and played in nine games, missing three due to a calf injury.[3] He was largely used in a reserve capacity and finished the season as the Redbirds' third-leading rusher, with 322 yards and two touchdowns on 63 touches.[3]
Robinson became Illinois State’s starting running back as a sophomore in 2017 and quickly emerged as one of the top players in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). He rushed for 933 yards and 12 touchdowns, helping lead the Redbirds to an MVFC championship and an appearance in the FCS playoffs. His performance earned him first-team All-MVFC honors.[4]
During his junior season in 2018, Robinson raised his national status. He carried for 1,290 yards and 12 touchdowns, as well as many 100-yard rushing games, establishing his reputation as one of the FCS' most productive backs.[5][6] Robinson was awarded first-team All-MVFC for the second straight season and earned All-American honors, including first-team honors from Phil Steele and third-team honors from the Associated Press.[6] He was also nominated as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.[7]
AAs a senior in 2019, Robinson had one of the best rushing seasons in school history.[5] He led the FCS with 1,899 rushing yards and added 18 touchdowns, earning consensus first-team FCS All-American honors and his third consecutive first-team All-MVFC selection.[5][8] Robinson concluded his collegiate career with 4,444 rushing yards, the second-most in Illinois State history, and was widely regarded as one of the top FCS running backs heading into the NFL draft.[8][9]
| Season | Team | GP | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2016 | Illinois State | 9 | 63 | 322 | 5.1 | 2 | 12 | 109 | 9.6 | 1 |
| 2017 | Illinois State | 11 | 165 | 933 | 5.7 | 12 | 9 | 75 | 8.3 | 0 |
| 2018 | Illinois State | 11 | 205 | 1290 | 6.3 | 12 | 21 | 164 | 7.8 | 1 |
| 2019 | Illinois State | 15 | 364 | 1899 | 5.2 | 18 | 16 | 80 | 5.0 | 0 |
| Total | 46 | 797 | 4,444 | 5.6 | 44 | 58 | 428 | 7.4 | 2 | |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 219 lb (99 kg) | 29+5⁄8 in (0.75 m) | 8+3⁄4 in (0.22 m) | 6 ft0+1⁄2 in (1.84 m) | 4.64 s | 1.55 s | 2.71 s | 4.19 s | 7.03 s | 40.0 in (1.02 m) | 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) | 24 reps |
| All values fromNFL Combine[10][11] | ||||||||||||
Robinson signed with theJacksonville Jaguars as anundrafted free agent on April 27, 2020, shortly after the conclusion of the2020 NFL draft.[12] Robinson made the Jaguars' 53-man regular season roster out of training camp and was announced as the team's starting running back several days later.[13][14]
Robinson made his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 2020 season against theIndianapolis Colts. He recorded 16 carries for 62 rushing yards and a reception in which he leapt over ColtssafetyKhari Willis for 28 receiving yards in the 27–20 victory.[15] Robinson became the fourth undrafted rookie running back to start week one since 1970, and set the record for most rushing yards for an undrafted rookie in Week 1. He became the first running back from Illinois State to start a game sinceAveion Cason in 2006.[16] A week later, on September 20, 2020, Robinson tallied 120 all-purpose yards and scored his first career touchdown in a 33–30 loss to theTennessee Titans.[17] In Week 3, against theMiami Dolphins onThursday Night Football, he had 129 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 31–13 loss.[18] On October 1, 2020, Robinson was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for his performance in September.[19] In Week 7 against theLos Angeles Chargers, he had 22 carries for 119 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with four receptions for 18 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 39–29 loss.[20] In Week 10, against theGreen Bay Packers, he had 23 carries for 109 rushing yards in the 24–20 loss.[21] In Week 12, against theCleveland Browns, he had 22 carries for 128 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with five receptions for 31 receiving yards in the 27–25 loss.[22]
Robinson is the fourth undrafted player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in his rookie season, followingDominic Rhodes,LeGarrette Blount, andPhillip Lindsay.[23] He also finished with the record for most scrimmage yards of any rookie free agent in NFL history.[24] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[25] Robinson was ranked 100th on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2021 list.[26]
Against theNew York Jets in Week 16 of the 2021 season, Robinson tore hisAchilles tendon in the first quarter, ending his season.[27] He finished the season with 767 rushing yards and eight touchdowns through 14 games.[28]
On October 25, 2022, Robinson was traded to the Jets in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick following anACL injury toBreece Hall that cut his 2022 season short.[29] It came as 2021 first-round pickTravis Etienne replaced him as the starter in Jacksonville.[30][31][32] Robinson only played in four games the rest of the season for the Jets. On the 2022 season, Robinson had 110 carries for 425 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with 11 receptions for 51 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.[33]
On March 17, 2023, Robinson signed a two-year, $8 million contract with theNew England Patriots.[34] He was considered a possible short-yardage replacement for the departingDamien Harris, who had signed with theBuffalo Bills. However, on June 12, Robinson was released by the Patriots.[35] It was later reported that the team had concerns about his health and the deal had contingencies should Robinson fail a physical.[36][37]
On July 21, 2023, Robinson signed with theNew York Giants.[38] He was released on August 27, 2023.[39]
On October 17, 2023, theGreen Bay Packers signed Robinson to theirpractice squad.[40] He was released on November 6.[41] He was signed to the practice squad again on November 20, and signed to the active roster two days later.[42][43] He was released on November 27.[44] He was re-signed to the practice squad on November 29, 2023.[45] He was released again on December 5, 2023.[46]
On December 13, 2023, theNew Orleans Saints signed Robinson to their practice squad.[47] Following the end of the 2023 regular season, the Saints signed him to a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.[48] On August 27, 2024, the Saints released Robinson.[49]
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2020 | JAX | 14 | 14 | 240 | 1,070 | 4.5 | 47 | 7 | 49 | 344 | 7.0 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 2021 | JAX | 14 | 13 | 164 | 767 | 4.7 | 58 | 8 | 31 | 222 | 7.2 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 2022 | JAX | 7 | 5 | 81 | 340 | 4.2 | 50T | 3 | 9 | 46 | 5.1 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| NYJ | 4 | 0 | 29 | 85 | 2.9 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 | GB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | −2 | −2.0 | −2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 40 | 32 | 515 | 2,264 | 4.4 | 58 | 18 | 92 | 615 | 6.7 | 28 | 5 | 8 | 3 | |
| Source:pro-football-reference.com | |||||||||||||||
Media related toJames Robinson (running back) at Wikimedia Commons