The Eagles on Tuesday afternoon placed veteran defensive end Derek Barnett (ACL tear) on Injured Reserve and already brought in his replacement.
Replacing Barnett on the roster will be edge rusher Janarius Robinson, whom the Eagles signed off the Vikings’ practice squad.
Robinson (6-5, 260) was a fourth-round pick out of Florida State last year but spent his rookie season on Injured Reserve with a leg injury. This summer, he was waived at final cuts and then signed to the Vikings’ practice squad so he has yet to play in a regular season NFL game.
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But there’s a lot to like about Robinson.
Robinson is a long-limbed pass rusher who had 6 sacks and 16 tackles for loss over his final two seasons at Florida State. He started 28 games for the Seminoles before being drafted in the fourth round last year.
He also boasted a pretty impressive athletic profile:
NFL
Here’s what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote about Robinson during the 2021 pre-draft process:
“A three-year starter at Florida State, Robinson played the “Fox” defensive end position in defensive coordinator Adam Fuller’s four-man front, lining up primarily in the boundary in a two-point stance. Playing for three different defensive coordinators in college, he didn’t quite live up to expectations in Tallahassee with only 8.0 career sacks, but the tools and flashes are intriguing. Robinson was blessed with long arms, huge hands and smooth acceleration, doing his best work as a downhill rusher. However, he didn’t put enough impact plays on tape, struggling to maximize those gifts or play with balance through contact. Overall, Robinson has a projectable body with high-upside traits, but he must develop his play instincts and creativity as a pass rusher if he is going to earn and keep an NFL roster spot.”
Sure, signing Robinson this week will allow the Eagles to gather some intel about the Vikings’ defense before they play them on Monday Night Football. But this move is likely about more than that. The Eagles also got away with signing Robinson because they play the Vikings on Monday Night Football. Typically, teams can't sign away PS players from their upcoming opponent. From the CBA: "a Practice Squad player may not sign an NFL Player Contract with his Club’s next opponent later than 4:00pm, New York time, on the sixth day preceding the game." The Eagles signed Robinson just in time.
The Eagles were thrilled when they were able to add Ian Book and Trey Sermon earlier this month. Robinson is now the third mid-round draft pick the Eagles have added a year later:
3-88: RB Trey Sermon (from 49ers)
4-133: QB Ian Book (from Saints)
4-134: DE Janarius Robinson (from Vikings)
Robinson might come along slowly, which is OK. The Eagles will likely play second-year DE Tarron Jackson more after the loss of Barnett. Jackson was inactive in Week 1.
The Eagles still have one open spot on their 53-man roster.
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