The almost historic season of James Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars is over.
Coach Doug Marrone said Robinson will not play at the end of the season in Indianapolis due to an ankle injury, leaving 35 meters behind to break the record for most rushing yards by a raw rookie. Robinson, who also missed Week 16, finished 2020 with 1,070 yards, 34 behind Dominic Rhodes’ 1,104-yard mark set in 2001.
“We held out hope. We really were,” Marrone said, “but it doesn’t look like he’s ready for our game. I think it’s safe to say he’ll come out.”
Marrone also said that he is not sure if the wide receiver DJ Chark (shin) will be able to play against Colts (10-5), who is facing a mandatory game while trying to make the playoffs.
Robinson is third in the NFL in a hurry behind Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook, but Aaron Jones (1,062) and David Montgomery (1,001) are almost behind. Robinson is sixth in the NFL in scrimmage courts (1,414).
He is only the third rider to rush 1,000 meters in Jaguar history, joining Fred Taylor (1,223 in 1998) and Leonard Fournette (1,040 in 2017).
“I can never say enough about that guy – I really can’t – about how hard he tries,” Marrone said of Robinson. “He wants to come back. He wants to play.”
The Jaguars signed Robinson as a free agent in Illinois and he was so impressive in training camp that Jacksonville cut Fournette just before the season began.