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An 'awesome' sight: Jaguars running back James Robinson back in uniform as training camp opens

garry smits, florida times-union
·4 min read
Jaguars running back James Robinson was wearing his Nos. 25 jersey for the first time on Monday on the first day of Jaguars training camp since his Achilles tendon injury on Dec. 26, 2021, in a road game against the New York Jets.
Jaguars running back James Robinson was wearing his Nos. 25 jersey for the first time on Monday on the first day of Jaguars training camp since his Achilles tendon injury on Dec. 26, 2021, in a road game against the New York Jets.

There was an inspirational sight Monday when the Jaguars arrived at the Episcopal School’s Knight Campus for the first day of training camp: running back James Robinson, in uniform, for the first time since Dec. 26, 2021, when he ruptured his Achilles tendon in the first quarter of a 26-21 loss to the New York Jets in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Robinson didn’t do much besides stretch, go through agility drills and run some sprints with a football in hand. But his only work during OTAs and mini-camp getting was off to the side of the field in sweats, so it was another sign of the progress the Jaguars’ leading rusher in the last two seasons is making.

“James is doing extremely well,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said before practice. “We’re just going to take it slow with him and make sure he’s 100 percent before we put him out on the field.”

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Devin Lloyd hamstring concern

However, the sight of Robinson wearing his No. 25 jersey was dampened a bit when Pederson announced that rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd, the team’s second first-round pick and sixth in the last three seasons, was out with a hamstring injury that “popped up,” according to Pederson, during conditioning on Sunday after the team reported to TIAA Bank Field.

“Nothing too significant,” Pederson said of Lloyd’s injury. “We’re just going to be cautious with him and give him some time.”

The Jaguars could have put Robinson on the Physically Unable to Perform List but are evidently feeling good enough about his progress from the non-contact injury that felled him against the Jets.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who thought so highly of Robinson that he all but demanded former coach Urban Meyer stop benching him for long periods of time because of two fumbles last season (Robinson has only fumbled three times in 28 career games and 484 touches), was overjoyed with having Robinson back, even on a limited basis.

“Seeing him come along more and more, now that’s he running around … it’s awesome,” Lawrence said. “To see how fast he’s progressing is definitely encouraging. I know we need him. He’s a great player.”

Robinson gained 767 yards last season before his injury. He had 1,040 yards in 2020, the second-most in the common draft era by an undrafted rookie in NFL history, and his 1,414 yards from scrimmage was the most for an undrafted rookie.

Travis Etienne (1) goes through drills on Monday during the fist day of Jaguars training camp at the Episcopal School's Knight Campus. Etienne is coming off a Linsfranc injury that cost him the entire season in 2021.
Travis Etienne (1) goes through drills on Monday during the fist day of Jaguars training camp at the Episcopal School's Knight Campus. Etienne is coming off a Linsfranc injury that cost him the entire season in 2021.

Travis Etienne, Lawrence’s former Clemson teammate who was the team’s second first-round pick in 2021 after Lawrence, missed all of last season with a Linsfranc injury, but ran decisively and made quick cuts during the first practice — much as he did during OTA's and mini-camp.

For insurance, the Jaguars drafted Snoop Conner of Ole Miss in the fifth round.

Lloyd, an All-American from Utah, was impressive during rookie mini-camp, OTA’s and mandatory mini-camp. Chad Muma, a third-round rookie, got first-team reps on the inside in his place.

Other players the Jaguars are going to bring along slowly are wide receiver/returner Jamal Agnew, who went out for the season last November with a hip injury against San Francisco, and free-agent cornerback signee Darious Williams.

Jaguars running back James Robinson (25) is carted off the field during the first half against the New York Jets on Dec. 26, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Jaguars running back James Robinson (25) is carted off the field during the first half against the New York Jets on Dec. 26, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.

Monday's drills

Aside from Lloyd, the other 89 players on the training camp roster went through an hour of drills in helmets and shorts that was over by 10 a.m., a morning schedule it will keep for the entirety (going no later than 10:45 a.m. on most days).

The team will be in full pads for the first time Sunday. The opening preseason game is Aug. 4 in Canton, Ohio, the Hall of Fame game against Las Vegas.

The Jags are taking charter buses to the Knight Campus from TIAA Bank Field each day, a 10-minute trip. The team’s practice facility is undergoing renovation.

Pederson said the process has gone smoothly and raved about the condition of the two fields.

“We’re excited to be here and looking forward to spending the next few weeks over here,” he said.

Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: James Robinson back in uniform for Jaguars as training camp opens