Cam

Robinson

Robinson was engaged with another defender when a lineman fell on his leg and took him out. The veteran tackle remained down for a few minutes but was seen walking the sideline shortly after. The injury occurred with less than two minutes to go in the game, so it’s hard to know whether or not Robinson would have returned had more time been left in a competitive game. We should know more about his injury early in the week.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the two teams will also swap late-round picks in 2027 to complete the deal. Robinson became expendable following the emergence of rookie second-rounder Aireontae Ersery, who has been locked in as the team’s starting left tackle since Week 2, while Robinson hasn’t played an offensive snap since Week 1. Robinson’s arrival in Cleveland gives them an immediate option to start at left tackle in place of Dawand Jones, who was placed on injured reserve last week.

Per Schefter, Aireontae Ersery “looks ready” to start the season as Houston’s left tackle. That makes Robinson expendable, though Houston could simply keep Robinson as a highly-paid swing tackle. Robinson missed some time in training camp and did not play in the preseason this year.

Houston shockingly traded Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders for a haul of draft picks this offseason, leaving them with a glaring hole at left tackle. That was on top of the many other deficiencies across their offensive line. While the Robinson move alone won’t fix their blocking issues, it’s a start. Robinson was traded to the Vikings last year after Minnesota lost Christian Darrisaw to a season-ending injury. He had played well as a pass-blocker in Jacksonville but struggled in Minnesota, allowing 49 pressures on 446 pass-blocking reps according to Pro Football Focus. He should fare better in Houston with a full offseason to learn the offense.

The Patriots desperately need tackle help and this draft class, per Graff, looks ill-prepared to deliver it. Graff posits Ronnie Stanley as New England’s “No.1 target,” but both Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh appeared confident that they’d keep Stanley at the NFL Combine. Robinson, who was traded to the Vikings at the deadline to replace the injured Christian Darrisaw, has prototype size and speed for a left tackle. He also has played for former Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone, who is on New England’s coaching staff. Robinson’s raw numbers (8.7 percent pressure rate and 52 total pressures allowed) were not impressive last year, but it appears familiarity could help send him to New England.

Robinson practiced fully late in the week and will suit up against an Arizona defense graded by Pro Football Focus as the league’s third worst pass-rushing unit. Vikings declared RG Ed Ingram, TE Josh Oliver, OL Michael Jurgens, DT Levi Drake Rodriguez, CB Dwight McGlothern, S Jay Ward, and QB Brett Rypien inactive against Arizona.

Robinson was listed as questionable with the foot injury. He got in a full practice on Friday, so there was never much risk of him missing Sunday’s game. As a precaution, the Vikings will bring an extra tackle to their Week 13 matchup with Arizona.

Robinson is a former second-round pick of the Jaguars, playing in and starting 91 games in Jacksonville over the past eight seasons. He was benched in favor of Walker Little for the Jaguars’ Week 8 game and has been dealt to the Vikings, who are in need of a left tackle after Christian Darrisaw suffered a season-ending ACL tear last week. Though Robinson had been struggling this season, he offers reinforcement at left tackle as the 5-2 Vikings try to stay in contention. Robinson is in the last year of his contract and set to hit free agency at the end of the season.

There were some uncertainties regarding Robinson’s status on Friday but the starting tackle has no officially clear protocol and was removed from the team’s injury report for their Week 6 game against the Packers. Expect the veteran tackle to immediately reenter the starting lineup on Trevor Lawrence’s blind side.

Robinson was cleared to practice, not cleared from the league’s protocol. He is questionable for Week 8’s game against the Packers. If he cannot go, the Jaguars will likely start Walker Little at left tackle, who replaced Robinson in Week 7 after he departed from the game.