Curtis Robinson was never a star for the San Francisco 49ers. In five seasons with the team, he was rarely on the active roster. Still, he found a soft spot in fans' hearts, even being the Niners' two-time nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Robinson's final season in San Francisco was his best, as he produced 42 tackles in 14 games, even breaking into the starting lineup for a few.
The veteran backer capitalized on his productive season, signing a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. In a weak linebacker room, Robinson entered the summer with a clear path to a roster spot.
But a shaky preseason performance has him on thin ice.
Jerry Trotta of The Landry Hat, FanSided's dedicated Cowboys site, isn't feeling good about Robinson's roster chances after his disappointing preseason debut.
In a recent article, Trotta said, "While there were no big mistakes by Robinson, he was slow to react in zone coverage multiple times and was unable to make any plays. He just didn’t show enough in this outing to spark any type of discussion, and at this point, it would be a slight surprise if he made the final roster."
Former 49ers linebacker Curtis Robinson is on thin ice with Cowboys
A quick glance at the stat sheet from the Cowboys' preseason win over the Seattle Seahawks would indicate that Robinson had a solid performance. He led Dallas with eight tackles and even got into the backfield for a tackle for loss.
But as Trotta mentioned, he struggled to make a real impact on the game. Even after five years in the NFL, he looked a step slow to react to offensive plays.
While he didn't miss any tackles, he often gave up extra yardage. He allowed receptions on all four of the passes the Seahawks threw into his area, even allowing 9 yards after the catch on one play.
Robinson is currently fighting for the fifth off-ball linebacker spot on the Cowboys' roster. Dallas kept five linebackers in its initial 53 last season, putting Robinson right on the edge of the roster bubble. The former 49ers defender has the advantage of experience on his side, but he's far from guaranteed to make the squad.
He'll need to bounce back in the Cowboys' upcoming preseason games to secure his spot on the roster. Competing against younger players, his experience has to show itself on the field.
If he fails to impress, Robinson will be left without a team.
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