Former New York Jets running back James Robinson (23) Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Packers' addition of RB James Robinson is a big nothingburger

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 10/17/23

If the Green Bay Packers had signed running back James Robinson during the 2020 campaign, it may have been a huge deal.

That season, Robinson rushed 240 times for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He followed that up with 767 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021.

Not bad for an undrafted player out of Illinois State.

Unfortunately, that version of Robinson is a thing of the past, which makes it easy to predict that Green Bay's recent signing of him will likely amount to nothing special.

Still, with Aaron Jones having only played one game while sidelined with an injury and A.J. Dillon looking slow, uncoordinated and uninspiring, the Packers have nothing to lose by taking a gamble on Robinson.

Source: The #Packers are adding to their RB depth, signing FA RB James Robinson.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 17, 2023

There's very little to suggest that Robinson will move the needle for Green Bay, and frankly, that's less to do with him and more to do with the Packers' abysmal rushing attack in 2023.

The Packers rank near the bottom of the league in rushing yards per game with just 81.6. Sure, a lot of that is due to the unavailability of Jones, but it's just not a good offensive line.

Again, if this was 2020, Robinson signing with the Pack would be a big deal and perhaps Green Bay fans could have hoped that it would work out, but he's not that player anymore.

Robinson's third season in Jacksonville saw him rush for just 340 yards and three touchdowns and he put up only 85 yards on 29 carries with the New York Jets in 2022. He's been on practice squads with the New England Patriots and New York Giants since then, so that's the level of player the Packers just brought in to try to fix their abysmal offense.

Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.

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