The Jaguars made a surprising change to their offensive line against the Packers in Week 8, opting to play Walker Little at left tackle over the position’s eight-season starter, Cam Robinson, despite the latter player being active and available.
Robinson spent most of last week in the NFL’s concussion protocol but was cleared in time for the game and was observed in pads before kickoff. Little filled in for Robinson after he suffered his concussion against the New England Patriots and held onto the job against the Green Bay Packers.
Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson mentioned Monday that he will continue to evaluate Little and Robinson in practice this week before determining who will start at left tackle against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9.
“Undecided right now,” Pederson said Monday. “After the first couple series [Little] settled in and did some good things. We’ll see how it goes this week.”
But this story is about more than just an in-season position battle, especially as the Nov. 5 NFL trade deadline approaches, next Tuesday.
Mike Dempsey, the host of Jaguars Today on 1010XL, the Jaguars’ flagship radio station, reported Monday that Robinson was informed he would not start in Week 8 right before the game.
It was Jacksonville offensive line coach Phil Rauscher, not Pederson, who informed Robinson of the move, per Dempsey. He added that Robinson expressed frustration with the decision at the time.
“What I’m told is that Cam Robinson was pretty surprised not to be starting yesterday, and that he found out that he wasn’t starting from his offensive line coach, not his head coach. You know, he’s been a starter here for a long time, and may have voiced his displeasure about that decision,” Dempsey said.
Dempsey made the point that when the Jaguars lost left guard Ezra Cleveland for the rest of the Packers game due to an ankle injury, Jacksonville kept Robinson on the bench rather than utilize his experience, even though Little has playing experience at guard.
Second-year Jaguars lineman Cooper Hodges, who had one career offensive snap before Week 8, was inserted at guard instead.
“And you noticed later in the game, Ezra Cleveland leaves, you’re thinking, ‘Well, I know Walker Little’s not a great guard necessarily. But is our best option Cooper Hodges or is it to slide Walker Little in and put Cam Robinson, who has been your starter all year until he got a concussion last week?’ ” Dempsey pondered.
“And on top of that, Doug Pederson when asked about [injured running back] Travis Etienne Jr. was heard to say you can’t lose your job because of injury. Isn’t that how Walker Little got in, because of injury last week? So that’s a situation I think to keep an eye on over the next several days … I don’t know of anything in the works or anything like that. It just seems to me that, it wouldn’t surprise me if we got a change of scenery.”
Pederson denied knowledge of a spat between Robinson and Rauscher when asked about the interaction on Monday, suggesting he was unaware of any argument.
“Did you see one?” Pederson asked the inquiring reporter, who said they were also informed about the conversation. “Well, anytime you have a conversation, there’s words exchanged. No, that’d be news to me.”
Time will tell if Jacksonville and Robinson could be in for a split. But at a minimum, the Jaguars are currently considering their options at left tackle, with both Robinson and Little in the final season of their contracts with the club, the latter on his rookie deal.
Both have something to play for if they intend to stick with the Jaguars.