The New York Jets’ newly acquired running back James Robinson doesn’t sound too happy about how his final week as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars went down.
On Sunday — one day before Robinson was traded by the Jaguars — he had zero touches in a loss to the New York Giants. Coach Doug Pederson said Monday that the running back was dealing with “lower body issues” that he later specifically characterized as “knee soreness.” Two days later, Robinson confirmed that his knees were a little banged up, but said the decision to keep him out of action was about more than that.
“Travis [Etienne] is a great guy, great running back. I kind of thought it was going to be a one-two punch kind of thing,” Robinson said. “I think [the Jaguars] probably fell out of that a little bit. So I feel like they’re using my not feeling healthy as an excuse, I guess.
“There’s gonna be soreness. Drains in the knee. That’s stuff I’ve been through already there. But I feel good now.”
Robinson also said that “the communication was really not there” between he and Jaguars coaches, and said that he was given no prior notice that a trade could be coming.
Hours before Robinson was traded, Pederson told reporters that the team still felt as though the Jaguars offense was at its best when both Etienne and Robinson were involved. On Wednesday, he said the team wasn’t shopping Robinson “at all” before the Jets called to inquire about him on Monday.
While Robinson wasn’t too happy with Pederson’s decision to keep him on the sideline in Week 7, the running back isn’t too broken up about being a member of the Jets.
"5-2 from 2-5, feels pretty good to be part of this team"
James Robinson on getting traded from the Jaguars to the Jets: pic.twitter.com/Zur0b9IhDg
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 26, 2022
In the first three games of the season, Robinson scored four total touchdowns with the Jaguars and recorded 230 rushing yards. In this last four games with the team, Robinson rushed for only 110 yards and scored zero touchdowns.