Did Injury Cause Patriots Release of James Robinson?

The New England Patriots made the surprising decision to cut running back James Robinson just a few months after he signed. Could it have been due to injury concerns?

The New England Patriots are back on summer vacation with the ending of their mandatory minicamp last week, which means the players and coaches will have until late July before reporting back to Foxboro for the commencement of training camp.

One player who will not report for training camp will be running back James Robinson. The former Illinois State running back was released by the Patriots prior to the end of minicamp, meaning his stint in Foxboro only lasted less than three months. 

The release was a shocking move for some, as many expected the signing originally meant he would be joining the Patriots as a potential short-yardage back - a role the now Buffalo Bill Damien Harris once held. 

So what led to the ending of this young partnership? 

A recent report from ESPN's Mike Reiss makes it seem that New England could have released Robinson due to an injury. 

"RB James Robinson’s contract was structured in a way that led one to believe the Patriots had concerns from a health/injury standpoint," Reiss writes. "It might be a coincidence, but Robinson’s release comes at a time when players are undergoing physicals at mandatory minicamp."

Since bursting onto the scene as a rookie, rushing for 1,000 yards with the Jacksonville Jaguars, injuries have derailed a once-promising career for the 24-year-old. A combination of injuries and the emergence of Travis Etienne is what led to him being replaced as the No. 1 back in Jacksonville. 

Then, even after a trade to the New York Jets, Robinson continued to be an afterthought playing in just four games. 

Another contributing factor to the Patriots' release could be the hope in Ty Montgomery to become the second option at running back behind Rhamondre Stevenson. 

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