Report: Jaguars trade RB James Robinson to New York Jets in exchange for future draft pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars have traded running back James Robinson to the New York Jets for a future sixth-round pick that could become a fifth-round pick, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jaguars will earn a fifth-round draft pick if Robinson has at least 600 yards this season. Robinson currently has 340 yards and would need just 260 more for the sixth-round pick to become a fifth-round pick.

Robinson, 24, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jaguars following the 2020 NFL Draft. Robinson played in 35 total games for Jacksonville, starting 32. He accounted for 2,177 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns over the past three years while catching 89 passes for 612 yards and four receiving touchdowns.

The Jets recently lost rookie RB Breece Hall for the season due to a reported torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). At 5-2, the Jets had a need for the position, leading to the team acquiring Robinson from Jacksonville.

More Jaguars coverage: 

• Onto Travis Etienne: James Robinson dealing with knee soreness, Etienne playing well

• Frenette: More downs than ups as New York Giants stave off Jacksonville

• 'We gotta figure this out right now': Jaguars drop another close one, lose 23-17 to Giants

Robinson initially earned a starting role in Jacksonville during his rookie season replacing former Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette, who was released by the team prior to the 2020 season and later signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Now, Jacksonville will turn to 2021 first-round pick, RB Travis Etienne who has started the past two games for the club. Etienne has accounted for 415 yards on 68 carries this season, earning his first-career touchdown on Sunday during the team's 23-17 loss to the New York Giants.

Robinson carried the football just one time, which was called back due to a penalty. He played a season-low 12 snaps, the third-lowest snap total of his career.

Following the game on Sunday, Robinson was asked if he was frustrated by his lack of carries. He sarcastically stated “no, I’m very happy," and continued afterward stating we would need to speak with the Jaguars coaching staff about his lack of touches.

“I went there every week. I went about my day. It’s how it came out. I don’t know.”

Robinson played just 14 games last season before tearing his Achilles which cost him much of the offseason in Jacksonville. Still, Robinson was able to start on opening day against the Washington Commanders.

Jaguars likely feel comfortable with Etienne, other backs

On Monday, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson reiterated that the team feels comfortable playing Robinson, but his lack of playing time on Sunday had more to do with the play of Etienne, along with some knee soreness, than anything else.

"We know Travis (RB Travis Etienne Jr.) is playing well right now, too. It doesn’t take anything away from James," Pederson said on Monday, prior to the reported trade.

Etienne has been the team's most explosive back this year, and one of the most explosive backs in the league. According to Pro Football Reference, Etienne currently has 4.3 yards before contact per attempt, good for the second-best (Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III, 4.8 YBC/Att) among running backs this season.

He also is second among backs in yards per attempt at 6.1 (Chicago Bears RB Khalil Herbert, 6.4). Against the Giants on Sunday, Etienne rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, good for 8.1 yards per attempt.

This is Etienne's first year playing in the regular season. Last year, prior to the start of the 2021 regular season, Etienne suffered a Lisfranc injury. The injury occurred during the team's second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. Now, he has an opportunity to be what the team drafted him to be: a featured back.

Jacksonville has also begun to utilize third-string back JaMycal Hasty who carried the football once for six yards on Sunday. Hasty posted a 61-yard rushing touchdown in the team's 34-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6. The Jaguars have one other back, rookie RB Snoop Conner, who has yet to be active this season.

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @Demetrius82.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars trade RB James Robinson to New York Jets per report