James Robinson

Robinson had 263 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns in the first three games last year, which made for a triumphant return from the Achilles' tear he suffered Week 16 of 2021. But perhaps he returned a little too soon. After starting fast, Robinson produced just 113 yards over a four-week stretch before the Jaguars traded him to the Jets for a fifth-round pick. Robinson promptly appeared on the injury report with a knee injury after one week with the team, then suddenly seemed unable to run, producing just 90 yards and a score on 31 touches in four active games with the Jets while being inactive for six games. In March, the Patriots signed him to a two-year contract, but only $150,000 was guaranteed and they later released him in June. While he should get another chance elsewhere, it's not a great sign that the Patriots cut ties after seeing him practice for a couple weeks this spring.

Much like the Jaguars' season as a whole, Robinson's 2021 featured some wild swings of fortune, with infrequent highs and all too many lows. The team's decision to draft Travis Etienne late in the first round seemed to relegate the incumbent starter to a committee role, but then Etienne broke his foot in August and was lost for the year. After a sluggish performance out of the gate, Robinson scored five TDs in four games Weeks 3-6 while averaging 97.0 rushing yards per game, but after Jacksonville's bye, multiple lower-body injuries sapped his effectiveness and his campaign finally ended for good due to a partial Achilles tear in Week 16. It's not yet clear if he'll be ready to begin this season, but even if he is, a healthy Etienne figures to be prominently featured. Robinson runs with power and purpose, using his vision and agility to attack the defense, and he's shown he is an asset on passing downs as well. Etienne hasn't proven anything yet in the pros, but he has the advantage of being a high draft pick compared to Robinson's status as an undrafted free agent, not to mention the better health prognosis heading into training camp.

While a number of first-year running backs made impacts in 2020, none was more surprising than Robinson. The undrafted rookie pushed his way up the depth chart in camp, and the Jaguars were impressed enough with his efforts that they cut Leonard Fournette just before the start of the regular season. If the team had thoughts of using a committee, Robinson quickly ruined those plans too, as he seized the starting job and saw no fewer than 16 touches in a game until an ankle injury cost him the final two weeks of the season. A powerful, physical runner, Robinson doesn't have great speed but instead uses his vision and nimble feet to avoid big blows, with his 36 broken tackles tied for seventh among RBs. He also proved to be capable as a receiver and was a willing pass protector, allowing him to stay on the field in all situations. Despite his rookie success, the Jaguars invested a late first-round pick in Travis Etienne, who is seemingly a better fit for the spread offense that could accompany first overall selection Trevor Lawrence and new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. However, Etienne then suffered a season-ending foot injury in late August, leaving Robinson and 30-year-old Carlos Hyde as the Week 1 backfield options in Jacksonville. It's a setup that points to Robinson leading the way again, and perhaps even reprising the three-down role he earned as a rookie last year.

It initially appeared Robinson, an undrafted rookie out of FCS Illinois State, was likely to start his pro career on the Jacksonville practice squad. Instead, he's listed atop the depth chart at running back after the team waived Leonard Fournette at the end of August. The Jaguars widely have been expected to utilize a backfield committee, but it could be just Robinson and passing-down specialist Chris Thompson getting work at the start of the season, considering Devine Ozigbo is dealing with a hamstring injury and will miss at least a few weeks after being placed on IR.