Rams WR Demarcus Robinson grateful for opportunity as he turns heads at camp
IRVINE — When the Rams opened training camp last week, there was a list of receivers to watch. Former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp, of course. His running mate, Van Jefferson. The rookie who turned heads during the offseason, Puka Nacua. The man everyone has been waiting to see break out, Tutu Atwell.
But as the team started to scrimmage, observers had to check rosters to figure out: Who is No. 15?
That would be Demarcus Robinson, the veteran receiver who signed with the team in June following offseason camps. Seemingly a depth addition, Robinson quickly began making plays.
Jumping over rookie Tre Tomlinson to make a catch over the cornerback’s back on the first day of practice. Coming down with a deep ball through contact from a couple of defensive backs. Beating corners in routes to get open downfield.
“Just coming out, showing the team, showing the guys, showing the coaches what I can do, that I can make a play,” Robinson said. “Letting them know that I can really be a contributor to the team. So I think that was pretty big for me.”
Robinson had hernia surgery in February. Any concerns he had about the procedure were eased by former Kansas City Chiefs teammate Travis Kelce, who told him he’d feel all better in a matter of months.
That proved to be true. As Robinson trained by himself in Tampa, Florida, he waited for the right opportunity to present itself so that he had a chance to compete for a meaningful role come the fall.
“Just having an edge about myself knowing I was on a one-year deal last year, trying to make a real name that I can have a nicer, better contract,” Robinson said. “It was just something in myself that made me want to push harder.”
He signed with the Rams on June 12, believing it was the best fit for him. So far that has turned out to be true.
“You can feel, he’s got that nice kind of edge where he is not afraid to go or do anything other than go attack an opportunity to make a play,” Coach Sean McVay said. “If it doesn’t go his way, he’s like, ‘I can’t wait for that next opp.’ That’s the mindset you want to have on this team as a whole and I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Demarcus.”
After spending the first six years of his career with the Chiefs, Robinson spent one season with the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Rams.
So it’s the second year in a row he’s had to adapt to a new team, a new offense, a new quarterback. Being a veteran helps, but it’s still a learning curve. But Kupp, Jefferson and Atwell have been helpful in making that process go faster.
“I won’t say it’s easy, it’s never easy learning a new playbook,” Robinson said. “But I got great guys around me. Everybody in the room’s been helping me, come out early, do a little walkthrough before we even come out on the field. So all that small stuff’s been helping me.”
Robinson took advantage of injuries a year ago to have his best season with the Ravens, posting career highs in receptions (48) while contributing 458 yards and two touchdowns.
He thought that might have meant a longer tenure in Baltimore, but he isn’t complaining about his current situation.
“I didn’t even know I would be that there,” Robinson said. “I don’t even know how I’m still not even there, honestly. But things work how they work and I don’t know, I kind of like being out here a lot better.”