Patriots Cut 2 During Minicamp, Including Backup RB Candidate

The New England Patriots released running back James Robinson, perhaps with an eye toward making a more lucrative contract offer to DeAndre Hopkins.

The New England Patriots are thicker in the wallet and thinner at running back after surprisingly cutting James Robinson Monday afternoon.

Robinson signed a two-year, free-agent contract in March that included a $150,000 guaranteed signing bonus and could have been worth up to $8 million. But now he won't even make it to training camp with the team.

The Pats will gain about $1.1 million under the salary cap, and that money could be earmarked for a contract offer to coveted free-agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Robinson, 24, was slated to compete for playing time behind starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson. After New England allowed Damien Harris to leave for the Buffalo Bills this offseason, the backup job to Stevenson was going to be between Robinson, Ty Montgomery, J.J. Taylor and last year's draft picks, Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris.

In addition to an eye toward Hopkins, the healthy return of the versatile Montgomery also made Robinson expendable. Signed last offseason to replace Patriots' Super Bowl hero James White as a reliable third-down back, Montgomery scored New England's lone touchdown in the 2022 season-opening loss to the Miami Dolphins but also suffered a shoulder injury that ended his year.

After rushing for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns as an undrafted rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020, Robinson scored eight more times in 2021 before suffering a torn Achilles late in the season. He was subsequently traded to the New York Jets, where he was used only sparingly last season season before hitting the free-agent market.

“Just doing what I can to help this team win,” Robinson said last month about joining the Patriots. “They need to see me play, and you guys need to see me play. Just trying to bring what I did in my rookie season here.”

The Patriots, who are holding mandatory minicamp in Foxboro this week, also waived cornerback Tae Hayes.