Veteran Steelers WR Dazzles Coaches in Gritty Role

PITTSBURGH — When the Steelers traded for Allen Robinson II, the team did not expect the elite version of the veteran. At one point, Robinson was the main focal point of the offenses he played in with Jacksonville and Chicago. That’s not his game anymore. Robinson’s injuries and wear and tear have taken a toll on his game, but that does not mean he can not find a role in today’s NFL. Robinson has done that and more.

Now, he has embraced essentially playing as tight end or fullback. It’s a gritty role, but he does the dirty work no one else wants to do. When there are motion insert blocks, Robinson does that. His contributions to the run game have been underrated, and offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner made sure to give Robinson his props on Thursday.

“I’m glad you said A. Rob(Allen Robinson). We had an appreciation post in the meeting for A. Rob,” Faulkner said. ‘Like here’s a guy who’s had an unbelievable career. He’s caught, whatever, 600 some balls, made a lot of money, and he does all the dirty work on a regular basis and is excited to do it. Whenever we’re trying to make an example of the consummate professional that is 11, and he is awesome. He stays solid, just like we’re talking about the ten toes down thing. He stays solid, and he’s been good for the group. Unbelievable addition.”

Steelers WR Allen Robinson and QB Kenny Pickett against the 49ers, Sept. 10, 2023 – Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Robinson is not the flashy receiver. He is the chain mover who is a dependable target for his quarterback in the passing game when targeted. The Steelers have worked in bootlegs and Robinson is often the main target of those.

Robinson is a Detroit native who played college football at Penn State and lives in New Jersey. His NFL career has taken him to Chicago, Jacksonville and Pittsburgh, but it was a one-year 2022 stop in Los Angeles that came as a shock to everyone.

Robinson signed a three-year, $46.5 million contract with the Rams last March as the team’s big-time free agent addition in the wake of its Super Bowl win that February. This offseason, he was traded to the Steelers for the smallest of possible returns, an exchange of seventh-round draft picks.

After putting up 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020 with the Rams, Robinson scuffled through a tough season in Chicago in 2021. The thought was that by joining a more dynamic Rams offense, he could regain his previous form. Instead, he was even worse, catching just 33 passes for 339 yards on the season before suffering a season-ending injury.

But now, he has reinvented himself into an unheralded role that most guys do not want to do. It’s commendable and not something that everyone would do, but Robinson is the type of guy who has no trouble embracing that job when asked and has improved in that role over the year.