At least that is his expectation come Sunday afternoon when the 2-4 struggling Browns travel to New England to face the 6-time Super Bowl champion and 7-0 Patriots.
“Going into the game I believe I will be a backup, listed as a backup,” Robinson said Friday afternoon following the final practice of the week. “But anything can happen, I just have to be ready and basically I can’t be caught off-guard, whatever the case may be.”
Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens declined again on Friday to discuss any potential lineup changes up front.
“I promise we will have 2 tackles, 2 guards and a center,” Kitchens said. “It will be legal.”
The team feels that Robinson, who helped provide a spark last year and helped limit Baker Mayfield to being sacked just 5 times over the final 8 games that saw the team win 5 of them, has not played up to the same level this season.
Mayfield has been sacked 16 times and hit 22 more through the first 6 games.
Robinson has been penalized for false starts and holding multiple times this season and unfortunately a few of those penalties have been costly and led to drives stalling out.
“There’s critical moments where I feel like I’ve hurt the team, and that’s unacceptable on any level regardless,” Robinson said. “I won’t say I wish I could have them back, but I do. I feel like I’ve basically owned up to my faults, the things that I can improve on. All I was just asked for was just to be more consistent and that’s just my approach.”
According to Robinson, offensive line coach James Campen and general manager John Dorsey have been stressing consistency as an area in which Robinson needs to improve, which has now led to a change.
“I feel like I’ve handled it well. The decision was made and that’s the case at this point,” Robinson said. “But as of now I’m just focused on getting better. I can’t really allow any negative thing into my career linger or affect me in a way where I’m getting down on myself or I’m becoming a worse player. So I just focus on the things that I can improve on and just lock in a little more. I have very small room for error but I’m building each day and that’s my focus.”
Robinson did not reveal who would be taking his place Sunday afternoon at Foxborough, but he plans to help whoever it is in any way he can.
“Basically, I'm a backup,” Robinson said. “I'm just going to work my butt off until I'm back starting.”
It is expected that Justin McCray is the likely replacement for Robinson.
He has appeared in 5 games with a start this season against the Rams at right tackle. He’s also subbed in on jumbo formations.
Robinson, who re-signed this offseason for $7 million, is hopeful he can work his way back into the starting 5.
“There's a strong possibility,” Robinson said. “I've been getting a lot of reps with the ones just to make sure I'm not caught off guard and I respect that from the coaches. Regardless of what's going on, they still allow me to get the opportunity to get those reps and get familiar with the game plan outside of the meeting room.”