SANTA CLARA – Rookie cornerback Rashard Robinson has quickly grown into the part in the 49ers' defense.
Robinson, who had not played football since the 2014 season at LSU, won the right to replace Jimmie Ward in the 49ers’ starting lineup last week based on a strong week of practice. And he validated the decision of the coaching staff with three passes broken up in the 49ers’ 24-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
“I think it’s one of my best weeks of practice,” Robinson said. “I had a lot of vets getting me comfortable with the defense and running with the ones. Running in with the ones, getting acclimated to everything, it was pretty good. I felt good about it.”
Robinson is expected to get his second NFL start on Thursday. With Ward out for multiple games with a right quadriceps strain, Robinson is virtually assured to start against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium.
“He’s got some length and speed, good-looking player,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Tuesday in a conference call with Bay Area reporters. “Those kids who come out of LSU, they know how to play and they know how to play man-to-man. He does not look like a rookie out there.”
Robinson was suspended for reportedly failing a drug test early in the 2014 season at LSU. He started eight games that season as a sophomore but was suspended indefinitely for failing to meet academic requirements.
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He re-enrolled after sitting out one semester, but he never again played college football. In August 2015, he was arrested for alleged unauthorized entry into the apartment of an LSU teammate. The charges were dropped, and Robinson described the incident as "a big misunderstanding.”
His time away from football was a contributing factor for why Robinson, who is listed at 6 foot 1, 177 pounds, was lacking strength, 49ers defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil said.
“I think he was thin-framed when he got here just because he hadn’t played football in so long and he wasn’t at a place where he could get three good meals a day,” O’Neil said. “I think since he’s been here, he’s gained 20 pounds. He’s a good-sized corner.”
