Patrick Robinson – Syndication Server

Prince Amukamara changes jersey numbers, Saints assign No. 6 to Brett Maher

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyahgz6p2j3xp7 player_id=none image=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

It almost looked like the New Orleans Saints were about to rustle some feathers at Tuesday’s training camp practice. Newly-signed kicker Brett Maher was in the building, but he needed a jersey number — and specialists like him are restricted to wearing everything from Nos. 1 through 19. Of those possibilities, all but Nos. 8 and 9 were unclaimed.

And those are, well, accounted for. Archie Manning wore No. 8 back in the day as New Orleans’ first franchise player. Drew Brees made No. 9 his signature during the team’s most successful era. Neither of those jerseys are going to be made available for a temp hire.

So as it happened, veteran cornerback Patrick Robinson retired from the NFL on the same day. His departure freed up No. 21, which was quickly picked up by Prince Amukamara, another corner. Amukamara had previously worn No. 6, which was then assigned to Maher. Did you catch all that?

We’ll see who is wearing what in the weeks ahead. Teams must begin making roster cuts after each preseason game, with the first wave of releases to be filed Tuesday, Aug. 17. That’s going to free up numbers for other players and we could see some of them swap jerseys as the regular season approaches. And if something as superficial as jersey numbers is the biggest news of the day at Saints training camp, we’ll be doing pretty well.

[listicle id=47708]

Saints cornerback Patrick Robinson informs team he’s retiring from the NFL

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyahgz6p2j3xp7 player_id=none image=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

#Saints veteran CB Patrick Robinson informed the team that he is retiring, per agent @Agentbutler1. After 11 seasons and a Super Bowl title, the former first-rounder calls it quits.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 10, 2021

There’s another hit to the New Orleans Saints defense, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting that Patrick Robinson has chosen to retire from the league. Robinson was the likely starter at cornerback opposite Marshon Lattimore for Week 1, but he’s stepping away from the game after 11 years in the NFL.

Initially drafted 32nd overall out of Florida State, Robinson went on to appear in 123 regular season games, 84 of them with the Saints. He spent a few years traveling the league before winning a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles and returning to New Orleans, where he’d been a backup.

Now he gets to go out on his own terms. Robinson turns 34 in September and should get to enjoy good health in retirement. As for the Saints — their already-big need at cornerback just became even more important.

[vertical-gallery id=47694]

Former Eagles CB Patrick Robinson announces his retirement from the NFL

#Saints veteran CB Patrick Robinson informed the team that he is retiring, per agent @Agentbutler1. After 11 seasons and a Super Bowl title, the former first-rounder calls it quits.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 10, 2021

Patrick Robinson will always eat and drink for free in Philadelphia thanks to his performance in the 2017 NFC Championship game.

The former Florida State star and 2010 first-round pick announced he’s retiring from the NFL according to his agent.

During the 2017 NFL offseason, the Eagles signed Robinson to a one-year, $775,000 contract deal.

After a training camp competition with Ronald Darby, Jalen Mills, Rasul Douglas, Jaylen Watkins, and Ron Brooks for the starting cornerback position, Robinson earned a spot on the roster.

Robinson will be remembered in Philadelphia for his 50-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter of the 38–7 victory over Minnesota.

In the Eagles Super Bowl win over New England, Robinson recorded three tackles and also batted down Tom Brady’s Hail Mary pass to finish the game.

[vertical-gallery id=651906]

[lawrence-related id=651926,651928,651923,651908,651898]

Roster locks and long shots at cornerback in Saints training camp

There has already been turnover at cornerback in Saints training camp. Previewing the roster locks, long shots, and players on the bubble:

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyahgz6p2j3xp7 player_id=none image=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

There isn’t a bigger question facing the New Orleans Saints defense than which two cornerbacks start Week 1. One of those spots could be settled if Marshon Lattimore avoids suspension following an offseason arrest in Cleveland, but that feels like a touch-and-go situation. As for the other spot, well. Right now Patrick Robinson is getting those snaps in practice but the Saints are actively exploring all options to upgrade.

So who has the best chance of sticking around? Here are our roster locks, long shots, and the players on the bubble at cornerback:

The Athletic picks ongoing uncertainty at cornerback as Saints’ worst offseason decision

[mm-video type=video id=01f9es4p6fwv82ede9tn playlist_id=01eqbyahgz6p2j3xp7 player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f9es4p6fwv82ede9tn/01f9es4p6fwv82ede9tn-ac59f7cf4b5195d0c93fbb9f9aad20b5.jpg]

Which roster move was the worst decision of the New Orleans Saints offseason? Between their releases, signings, draft picks, and many, many contract restructures (tying underperforming players like Andrus Peat closer to their future), there are plenty to choose from.

The Athletic’s Katherine Terrell chose New Orleans’ worst offseason move in a survey of all 32 teams, though she nearly gave them a mulligan for somewhat extenuating circumstances. She wrote:

“You could say some things were partially out of the Saints’ control after their cap situation got to the point that starting corner Janoris Jenkins had to be released. The Saints loved Jaycee Horn but weren’t going to mortgage their entire future to get him in the draft, and while they could’ve gotten one of the second-tier corners at the end of the first round, they went with Payton Turner. Trading back up in the second to get someone like Tyson Campbell didn’t work, so that position wasn’t addressed until Paulson Adebo in the third round. It feels like the Saints have a gaping hole at CB with few options available and no cap space until someone is extended.”

There’s a very different scenario in a parallel, divergent timeline (or variant, for “Loki” fans) where the salary cap didn’t take an unprecedented tumble and the Saints were able to retain Janoris Jenkins, giving Adebo a year to prepare to replace him or Marshon Lattimore in 2022. But that’s not where we are, and it’s an unenviable position for New Orleans.

Maybe things work out with Adebo competing to start opposite Lattimore, though as Terrell pointed out you’d imagine the Saints still want to add another veteran to the mix with Patrick Robinson and P.J. Williams. Big names like Richard Sherman and Steven Nelson are still available, as are free agents like Dre Kirkpatrick (who visited with the Saints in June).

If New Orleans can negotiate a contract extension with franchise-tagged safety Marcus Williams ahead of the NFL deadline later this week, they should be able to sign their pick of the bunch. They already have more than $11.6 million in salary cap space after inking right tackle Ryan Ramczyk to a long-term deal.

[listicle id=46116]

Saints report CB Patrick Robinson to return from injured reserve

The New Orleans Saints designated CB Patrick Robinson to return from injured reserve, having missed several weeks with a hamstring injury.

[jwplayer n2sOWDn3-ThvAeFxT]

A familiar face could soon be spotted again in the New Orleans Saints secondary. Cornerback Patrick Robinson was designated to return from injured reserve on the daily NFL transactions wire, which opened the door for him to practice with his teammates ahead of Week 17’s game against the Carolina Panthers. He can be activated at any time if his injured hamstring checks out.

This news takes on more importance in light of safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson going on the COVID-19 reserve list. Both players have put together their best game tape when lined up over the slot, but Robinson had taken on more of a backup boundary role with Gardner-Johnson dominating so early on in his career.

Normally, cornerback P.J. Williams has been the go-to option to fill in for Gardner-Johnson in a pinch. But with free safety Marcus Williams nursing an ankle injury, Williams probably remains in deep coverage (likely platooning with D.J. Swearinger behind Malcolm Jenkins, as the team has done before) over the top while Robinson steps in to the slot.

It’s not an ideal fix, but it’s the best we’re likely to see in these circumstances. Here’s hoping everyone enjoys a full and quick recovery.

[listicle id=42002]

Saints-Eagles injury report: Terron Armstead returns to practice

New Orleans Saints LT Terron Armstead returned from the COVID-19 reserve list, but QB Drew Brees was absent on the Week 14 injury report.

The New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles published their initial injury reports following Wednesday’s practice sessions, and there’s several important updates from both sides. But the big name Saints fans will be looking for is nowhere to be seen: quarterback Drew Brees is still not practicing after suffering a complicated chest injury, which was reported earlier. For now, he’ll remain on injured reserve.

But there is good news for New Orleans. Starters like defensive end Marcus Davenport (concussion) and cornerback Janoris Jenkins (knee) returned to practice after missing Week 13’s game with the Atlanta Falcons, though Davenport practiced fully and Jenkins remained limited. We’ll see if he improves as the week continues.

A couple of other players are working to return from injuries: both cornerback Justin Hardee and wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey were spotted at practice, but they’re still on the injured reserve lists, for now. Additionally, starting left tackle Terron Armstead and guard Derrick Kelly made their return from the COVID-19 reserve list.

Saints announce CB Patrick Robinson (leg) will not return vs. Falcons

The New Orleans Saints announced that corner Patrick Robinson would not return for their Week 13 game with the Atlanta Falcons due to injury

[jwplayer 5kXIrfVV-ThvAeFxT]

An already short-handed secondary took another hit when the New Orleans Saints ruled cornerback Patrick Robinson out for the rest of their Week 13 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. Robinson was starting in relief of Janoris Jenkins opposite Marshon Lattimore and made a couple of nice plays early on before exiting with a leg injury. He was initially questionable to return before being downgraded in the second half.

Robinson was limited in Friday’s final practice session before kickoff with a hamstring injury, so it’s possible these are related issues. For now, the Saints are not releasing any details on his condition.

In the meantime, he’s been replaced by P.J. Williams, a career slot corner who cross-trained at free safety over the summer. The only other healthy cornerback besides Williams and Lattimore is Ken Crawley, who so far has only appeared on special teams against Atlanta. Hopefully the Saints offense can keep up the pressure as the fourth quarter begins.

[vertical-gallery id=40986]

Saints vs. Falcons inactive list: CB Patrick Robinson will play in Week 13

The Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints reported their inactive lists for Week 13’s rematch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints reported their inactive lists for Week 13’s rematch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, though the Saints ruled out multiple players preemptively because of injuries (starting cornerback Janoris Jenkins and defensive end Marcus Davenport among them). The big name to note here is returns specialist Deonte Harris, who won’t be playing. He’s likely to be replaced by practice squad call-up Tommylee Lewis.

And the good news is that backup corner Patrick Robinson is active after a hamstring injury limited him in Friday’s final practice session. The Saints promoted practice squad cornerback Grant Haley in case Robinson couldn’t go, but his body responded well in pregame warmups, so he’ll be replacing Jenkins in the starting lineup.

Atlanta will be without starting guard James Carpenter while he manages a groin muscle issue, but they are returning both wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Todd Gurley, who were each questionable to play on the injury report. Here’s who won’t be suiting up: