Curtis Robinson Prioritizes Team Over Titans’ Roster Spot, Stays Committed to 49ers

Curtis Robinson Prioritizes Team Over Titans’ Roster Spot, Stays Committed to 49ers

SANTA CLARA — Linebacker Curtis Robinson’s career dreams are bigger than being a member of the practice squad. But for now, his back-to-back role with the NFC West champion 49ers has been enough to keep him from a better individual situation elsewhere. Members of NFL practice squads are essentially free agents who can join any team’s 53-man roster at any time.

Two weeks ago, the Tennessee Titans offered Robinson a coveted NFL roster spot. Robinson told NBC Sports Bay Area that he was embarrassed by the decision before choosing to remain on the 49ers’ practice squad to finish the season. “Personally, I put a lot of work into this season,” Robinson said.

“Both as a team and as a line group, we’re working hard and I want to see everything we’ve been working on come to fruition. “I think we have a very good group and it’s a good run. I want to see it through.” Robinson’s decision to stay in San Francisco underscores the support of cultural director John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan in the organization. Robinson put the team first before his personal goals.

As one of 16 members of the practice squad, Robinson is basically insured, with his main contributions coming against the 49ersand#039 during practice week; the first attack of the equipment. He is currently behind veteran quarterbacks Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Oren Burks and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, as well as rookies Dee Winters and Jalen Graham. It’s been a long road for Robinson, 25, who signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2021.

He played three games as a rookie with the Broncos before being waived and ended up with the 49ers at the end of that season. Robinson played in three regular season games in the last three seasons with the 49ers. The difference between a $12,000 weekly practice squad spot and being on the 53-man roster is about $40,000. But it is clear that money was not the deciding factor for Robinson. “I haven’t had much of a start in my personal career yet,” he said. “So it was hard to turn down the opportunity.

But in the long run, this organization has treated me very well. I really like being here.” Robinson said he agonized over the decision for a while. He liked the idea of ​​rebuilding the lineup with linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who he considered his closest friend with the 49ers before this season. Al-Shaair signed with the Titans as a free agent. “There are unknowns in everything,” Robinson said.

“I don’t know if I’ll even make the playoffs here. This is the hope. But there are a lot of unknowns coming into the situation this late in the season. “Here I understand my role and I understand what we are aiming for. Even then it was clear that we will go to the finals and winning is the most important thing for me.

Robinson said that the 49ers gave him no guarantee that he would be promoted to the 53-man roster of the 49ers. He may never play with the 49ers this season. But the allure of a Super Bowl ring was the driving force behind his decision. “We have bigger goals than worrying about me turning 53,” Robinson said. “I understand that we are aiming for something much bigger. We all have a part in it. “I yearn for a bigger role someday, but right now I don’t think it’s important enough to leave this situation.”