Landon Robinson arrived in Cincinnati as a seventh-round defensive tackle, but his first training camp is already offering something a little different. On Tuesday, the Bengals gave the rookie a look at fullback in a short-yardage package, and he made the most of it.
Robinson lined up in the backfield on a third-and-1 play and helped clear the path for Samaje Perine’s touchdown run. Bengals radio voice Dan Hoard noted that Robinson’s block on linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. helped spring Perine into the end zone.
That kind of wrinkle matters for a player trying to stand out in a crowded defensive line room. Cincinnati took Robinson out of Navy with the No. 226 pick in the 2026 draft, and any added value only helps his case as roster decisions start to tighten.
The idea came from offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, who asked Robinson about the possibility of handling the role.
"Coach Pitcher came to me and said, 'Hey Landon, have you ever played fullback?'" Robinson said, via Hoard. "I was able to sit in on a couple of offensive meetings, and he installed the goal-line package."
The Bengals didn’t wait long to test it. At six-foot and 295 pounds, Robinson brings plenty of size to the backfield, but it’s the carryover from his defensive game that stands out most.
"The quickness I use at D-line kind of translates to fullback," Robinson said. "Low center of gravity and boom! I think it worked out pretty well."
Robinson has seen the position before. Bengals.com reported earlier in camp that he had already been working at fullback and even joined Joe Burrow’s offensive huddle during a walkthrough. He also logged a handful of fullback snaps at Navy, so the job isn’t completely new territory.
Cincinnati doesn’t need him to become a full-time two-way player. Still, a near-300-pound defensive tackle who can help as an extra blocker in goal-line and other short-yardage spots gives the coaching staff another useful option.
And for a late-round rookie, that kind of versatility can be a difference-maker. Robinson is fighting for snaps behind Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen, B.J. Hill, and others, so every way he can help only strengthens his position.
For now, the early return is simple: Robinson got his shot, delivered the block, and played a part in a Bengals touchdown.
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