By Tarik El-Bashir
CSNwashington.com
When Pierre Garçon left Sunday’s game in New Orleans with a foot injury, the biggest opportunity of Aldrick Robinson’s NFL career hit him square between the numbers.
“I knew I had to step up,” Robinson said of his first NFL regular season action. “The game plan was to go to ‘P’ a lot. So I knew the ball was going to be coming my way.”
Robinson caught four passes for 52 yards and a touchdown in the Redskins’ 40-32 victory over the Saints. If Garçon is unable to suit up in St. Louis – he was limited in practice the past two days – Robinson could make his first career start against the Rams.
“That’s what you’re hoping he could do because there’s no doubt he’s talented enough to do it,” Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said of Robinson, a 6th round pick out of SMU in 2011. “You never know until a guy gets thrown into that situation. Aldrick came in and …we didn’t miss a beat. He stepped it up, did what he was supposed to do and I was real happy for him.”
Robinson’s second reception resulted in a milestone he won’t soon forget. With the Redskins leading 10-7 in the second quarter and looking for more, the 23-year-old who spent all but one game on the practice squad last season ran a shallow slant and snagged Robert Griffin III’s pass just as he crossed into the end zone.
Then, in the third quarter, the Redskins faced a second-and-19 when Robinson made another impressive catch, hauling in a ball that was thrown slightly behind him for a 29-yard gain.
“Opportunities come, and you have to take advantage of them,” Robinson said. “That was an opportunity I knew I had to take advantage of.”
Just as important, Robinson has proved to himself – and the coaching staff – that he belongs.
“It was a big confidence booster,” he said. “It allowed me to see where I was at, and let me know that I can play on this level.”
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