Raiders try out RB James Robinson as he seeks NFL return

Running back James Robinson took part in a tryout with the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday as he looks to get back into the NFL. Robinson is 26 and last appeared in an NFL regular-season game in 2023, following a period away from the league that included time in the United Football League.

The workout is the latest checkpoint in a career that surged early and then moved through multiple stops. Robinson broke into the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars and delivered a standout rookie campaign in 2020, finishing that season with 1,070 rushing yards.

Robinson’s recent path from the NFL to the UFL After his initial success in Jacksonville, Robinson’s NFL journey shifted when he was traded to the New York Jets in 2022. He later had a short stint with the Green Bay Packers in 2023, but he did not play in the NFL during the 2024 or 2025 seasons.

Robinson most recently played for the Louisville Kings in the UFL. He was part of a championship season and produced 452 total rushing yards over eight games, adding a recent body of work as he pursues another opportunity at the top level.

What the Raiders are assessing in the tryout

Officials will weigh whether Robinson can show the physical durability required for an NFL role and whether his skill set fits the Raiders’ offensive approach. The evaluation is also a test of how his current conditioning translates in a team setting after time away from the NFL schedule.

Any contract decision is expected to depend on the coaching staff’s judgment of his present speed and agility relative to other options on the roster. The Raiders are also considering how Robinson might fit as depth in a backfield that is going through roster transitions, according to the assessment outlined around the tryout.

Robinson’s broader NFL production remains a key reference point in that evaluation. He has 2,264 career rushing yards in the NFL, a figure that reflects both his early impact and the playing time he accumulated before his recent absence from regular-season action.

Championship experience with Louisville Kings

Robinson’s UFL run with the Louisville Kings is part of his argument for returning to the league. His role on an eventual championship team is being framed as evidence that he can still contribute in competitive environments and handle meaningful situations.

For Robinson, the Raiders tryout represents a pivotal chance to show that his playing style can match what the team wants on offense and that his overall conditioning is strong enough to hold up over a professional season. The timeline for any offer, if one comes, will follow the coaching staff’s assessment from this evaluation.