Patrick

Robinson

Robinson, 33, was the oldest player on the Saints roster after Drew Brees’ retirement. He was a first-round selection by the Saints in 2011. Robinson was competing for a starting cornerback job opposite Marshon Lattimore after New Orleans released Janoris Jenkins in a salary cap move. Entering his fourth year in his second stint with the Saints, Robinson decided to hang up the cleats four weeks before the start of the regular season.

The nickel man was limited to seven 2020 appearances as he battled continual hamstring woes. With the Saints’ secondary finally at full strength, Robinson figures to mix in for 25-30 snaps against the Bears.

Robinson has been playing roughly 30 snaps per week, though that number has occasionally ballooned beyond 60. He was limited to six in Week 13 after aggravating his hamstring issue. Robinson is ineligible to return before the regular season finale in Week 17.

As is the case every year, the Saints are going from player to player and asking them to restructure their current contract as they attempt to balance their cap sheet. Robinson, 33, will be entering 11th season in the NFL but is starting to lose a step. He’s only played in 14 games over the last two seasons.

The Saints’ slot CB suffered the injury in the second quarter of the team’s matchup against the Bears. The defense is already without starting nickelback P.J. Williams.

It makes Robinson unlikely to return this year. He’s dealing with ligament damage, which is a worst case scenario. Robinson was playing well before going down, so it’s a hit to the Saints’ secondary. P.J. Williams will pick up Robinson’s snaps.

Yikes. Robinson signed a four-year, $20 million deal to be the Saints’ slot corner in March. He had been playing decent snaps for the Saints’ suddenly awful cornerback corps, grading out of the top player in the group on Pro Football Focus. Robinson will be a candidate to return after eight weeks, but it’s possible he will need more time to get healthy. 2015 third-round bust P.J. Williams is the next man up.

He was carted off early in the third quarter. Robinson didn’t record any statistics prior to exiting. His departure weakens what was already a vulnerable Saints secondary.

Robinson was carted off early in the third quarter Sunday against Atlanta. High-ankle sprains are more serious and almost always result in multi-week absences. It’s another blow to a suddenly shaky Saints secondary.

A first-round pick in 2010, Robinson appeared in 15 games, recording 47 tackles and four interceptions. Considered the in-house favorite to replace free agent Tracy Porter, Robinson’s production surpassed Porter’s in nearly every defensive category last season.