Cam Robinson returns to Duval a dozen days after the Jacksonville Jaguars shipped him away.
"I'm excited for him," pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen said Thursday of his former teammate ahead of Sunday's Vikings-Jaguars game, . "He's at a good team, a good situation over there and he's coming back to his hometown trying to prove a point."
The Jags traded Robinson to Minnesota, who replaced the injured Christian Darrisaw. Prior to the move, Jacksonville benched the 29-year-old, electing to stick with Walker Little as the starting left tackle despite Robinson clearing concussion protocol. Robinson didn't play in the Jags' Week 8 loss to Green Bay and appeared agitated on the sideline. Two days later, the club shipped him away.
"That's sometimes the nature of this business," Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold said. "Whatever friends or family he might be able to have coming to the game, first and foremost, that's really cool for him. But, again, it's just X's and O's. It's going out there and being able to execute at a high level, and that's all we're worried about."
Hines-Allen looks forward to going up against his former teammate after years of being unable to attack him full-bore in practices.
"This will be my first real game flow, take-him-to-the-ground opportunity to go against him," Hines-Allen said. "I'm excited about it. I know he's a good player. I've been going against him since I've been here. I'm excited. Hopefully he's excited and we can put on a good show."
The showdown is a pivotal game for each. The 6-2 Vikings are attempting to keep pace in the hot NFC North in the first game of a three-leg road trip. Meanwhile, Jacksonville (2-7) is trying to avoid another three-game skid despite Trevor Lawrence not being expected to play.
The Hines-Allen versus Robinson matchup will be key on Sunday. The best way for the Jags to discombobulate the Vikes' offense is to rattle Darnold. If Robinson keeps his former teammate off the QB's back, it could be shooting fish in a barrel for the Minnesota offense in Jacksonville on Sunday.
