Rookie T.J. Yeldon has emerged as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ every-down running back this season, but on Sunday their leading rusher from last season proved he is still more than capable of carrying the load.

Yeldon got off to a hot start on Sunday, rushing for 62 yards on just 11 carries, but when he left with a knee injury in the third quarter, the Jaguars called on Denard Robinson to fill the void. The third-year running back responded with his best game of the season, rushing for 75 yards on 14 carries. He added a one-yard touchdown run late in the game to seal the Jaguars’ 51-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

This season has not exactly gone as planned for Robinson. He missed three games early in the season with a knee injury and has had a limited role on offense since his return to the lineup. He had just 28 carries entering Sunday’s game against Indianapolis.

Last season Robinson started nine games and led the Jaguars with 135 carries for 582 yards and four touchdowns. When the Jaguars drafted Yeldon at the top of the second round in last May’s NFL Draft, Robinson became the backup.

On Sunday, the former fifth-round pick went out and proved he is still a viable option at running back. A former college quarterback at Michigan, Robinson is known more for his speed, but Sunday’s performance showed just how far he has come in his development as a running back. Robinson ran with a certain physicality and decisiveness in leading the Jaguars’ offense to its best rushing total of the season.

Yeldon’s status for next Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons is still up in the air, but if he is unable to go, the Jaguars have to be more than confident in Robinson’s ability to start in his place.

K.J. Momberg is the Jacksonville Jaguars Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @kjmomberg or add him to your network on Google.

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