This week might be the best week for Jacksonville Jaguars fans after first-year coach Doug Pederson allowed running back James Robinson to play in Sunday’s season opener game against the Washington Commanders. Pederson confirmed the news in a Monday press conference.

The third-year RB will return to play following his torn ACL in Week 16 last season. Reportedly he has begun practice as the team’s top running back.

NFL players usually take 10-12 months of rehab after an ACL tear, while Robinson’s rehab only lasted for less than nine months. Pederson said he was concerned with this and told ESPN’s Michael DiRocco two weeks ago he would not deploy Robinson “full steam ahead”.

Jaguars HC Doug Pederson confirms James Robinson will definitely play Sunday vs. WASH.

This was the expectation at Jags HC all summer as Robinson's recovery has gone great. Now, Robinson makes a return to game action less than 9 months after tearing his Achilles in late December

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) September 5, 2022

“I don’t think you go full steam ahead. I think you gradually increase his reps. You don’t want to stress his body [in practice], but at the same time, he needs to get enough work where he’s possibly ready to go for Washington if that’s the case,” he said.

Playing this Sunday

Robinson’s return comes with fellow RB Travis Etienne, who is also coming back to the field after missing his entire rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury. The former Philadelphia Eagles coach said he would play it smart with Robinson.

“It is tricky with the type of injury that he had. I’ve been around offensive linemen that have had the same injury that have bounced back fast, and other guys it takes a little time,” the coach added.

Pederson is asked a follow up on if James will "definitely" play and he says yes.

James Robinson will make his return on Sunday.

— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) September 5, 2022

“But I think in his case, he’s on track, but again, we have to be smart as a staff, medically, coaches, to make sure we don’t have any setbacks at this time.”

Robinson was hired as an undrafted agent in April 2020. The 24-year-old became the fourth undrafted player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards during his rookie season, joining Dominic Rhodes, LeGarrette Blount, and Phillip Lindsay.

During his two seasons in Jacksonville, the Illinois native started 27 out of 28 games and made 404 rush attempts for 1,837 yards.

James Robinson "so close" to being ready for Week 1. https://t.co/ZB2C7d0EwN

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 25, 2022

Optimism in new season

The Jaguars did not win any of their preseason games. The team wrapped the preseason finale with a 28-12 defeat to its divisional opponent, the Atlanta Falcons. Pederson reflected on the defeat and said that the team would “out-executing” opponents in the 2022-2023 season.

“I think there’s familiarity in your division. Obviously, you play these guys twice a year, all the time, so you understand them, they understand you a little bit, and listen,” he said. “Sometimes it does come down to players. They’re the ones out there playing. There’s no magical formula to winning, it’s just putting your pieces against their pieces and out-executing people.

“Familiarity is one thing, I think it’s good, but again, you’re at the beginning of the season where they don’t know much about you, and you don’t know a whole lot about them, and everybody’s roster is different, different personnel, and that’s the exciting part of the game planning aspect for us as coaches and trying to put our players in those positions.”

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