A fifth-round draft pick from the New York Jets seemed like an inevitable return when the Jacksonville Jaguars traded James Robinson in October. Now it’s starting to look unlikely.
When the Jaguars traded Robinson to the Jets on Oct. 24, the compensation was a sixth-round selection that would elevate to a fifth-rounder if the running back finished the 2022 season with at least 600 rushing yards. At the time, Robinson was already at 340 yards and had 10 games in New York to get the last 260.
But after managing only 75 yards in his first three games with the Jets, Robinson was a healthy scratch for the team’s Week 12 win over the Chicago Bears.
“Obviously, I didn’t come here not to play,” Robinson told ESPN’s Rich Cimini this week. “Obviously, they brought me here for a reason. I don’t expect anything unless I work for it, and I’ve been working my ass off. Me not playing pisses me off.”
With Robinson watching from the sideline, the Jets instead gave undrafted rookie Zonovan Knight the majority of the touches Sunday. Knight finished with 69 rushing yards on 14 attempts and got another 34 yards on three receptions.
Knight’s production, Robinson’s lackluster numbers since the trade, and the potential to keep a fifth-round pick all mean there’s little reason for the Jets to put the former Jaguars player back in their lineup.
With six games left on the schedule for the Jets, Robinson needs another 185 rushing yards to reach the benchmark that changes the draft pick. Jacksonville probably shouldn’t count on that coming to fruition.