Details have emerged regarding the PED suspension Cam Robinson will serve to begin the 2023 season. The Jaguars tackle will be sidelined for four games to start the year, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). 
News of the Robinson ban came out in April, but it was not known at that point how many contests he would miss. Today’s update clarifies the challenge Jacksonville will face along the offensive line, a unit which already saw the departure of Jawaan Taylor to the Chiefs in free agency.
The loss of Taylor left the Jaguars in need of a notable O-line investment in the draft, something which came in Round 1 in the form of Anton Harrison. The latter was likely to play on the right side upon Robinson’s return, but there is a path for him to spend the first month of his rookie campaign at his familiar left tackle spot. Harrison made all but one of his starts at Oklahoma on the blindside.
Jacksonville also has Walker Little in place as a more experienced LT option. The former second-rounder has made 28 regular and postseason appearances to date, spending most of his time at left tackle. If the team elects to ease Harrison into the pro game (or keep him at right tackle in preparation for when Robinson returns) the Stanford product could see a starting blindside role in the fall.
For Robinson individually, this news carries signficant financial consequences. As Schefter’s colleague Field Yates tweets, the 27-year-old will lose $3.55MM in salary due to the missed time, and the remaining guaranteed money on his deal will void. Robinson signed a three-year, $52.75MM extension in 2022 which called for his $16MM 2023 base salary to be guaranteed in full. That figure will rise to a non-guaranteed $16.25MM next season, while his cap hit will remain above $22MM as is the case this year.
The Jaguars have remained committed to the Alabama product despite his less-than-spectacular performances throughout his career. His return to the lineup will no doubt be welcomed when it takes place, but the absence of guranteed money in the final year of his contract could spark new questions about his long-term future with the team. Robinson will miss games against the Colts, Chiefs, Texans and Falcons while serving his suspension. He will be eligible to return in Week 5, the Jaguars’ second straight London matchup when they play the Bills.
Jaguars first 4 weeks:
at Colts
vs Chiefs
vs Texans
vs Falcons in England
Jags seem to have gotten into the heads of the Colts so I think that is a winnable game. Chiefs will be coming into Jacksonville on a short week so that game may be closer than most fans expect. Oddly enough the Texans could prove to be the toughest opponent here as they had a 9 game win streak going against the Jags until last seasons loss. Playing games overseas is just idiotic so lets not waste time even commenting on that week 4 game.
The Texans are a tougher opponent than the Chiefs? Right.
The Chiefs lost to the Colts as 5′ point favorites off a Thursday game early last season so who’s to say it couldn’t happen again?
Still doesn’t make them a tougher opponent than one of the worst teams in the league. With a rookie HC and QB. On the road.
Well a lot could happen between now and that September 17 game. Part of the appeal of the sport is that fans know that on any given Sunday upsets can occur.
Of course. Who saw the Mitch Trubisky and the Steelers beating Burrow and the Bengals Week 1 last year?
Still didn’t make the Steelers a tougher opponent than, say the Bills or Chiefs though.
They just got enough bounces to go their way (literally and figuratives…mostly literally!)
The only time the toughest of the teams you beat or loss to is actually relevant is when a playoff tie breaker based on SOV (strength of victory) is required…and that isn’t very often.
In hindsight, of course. When forward looking? It’s very relevant. Why bother even speculating if you’re just going to hide behind “well, any given Sunday n’at”?
To be honest, I wouldn’t have much confidence in a coaching staff that spends it’s time analyzing the schedule to determine which opponents are going to tough and which are going to be easy. That resembles a “hope and prayer” approach which more often than not results in disappointment.
Sure but we aren’t professional coaches, we are idiots commenting on a football rumors website during the doldrums of the NFL offseason.
Analysis and speculation is kind of the name of the game…
Yeah and then the Chiefs went on to win the Super Bowl. Again.