Robert Turbin: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on Free-Agent RB

Third-year running back Robert Turbin was waived by the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 10, but he has already drawn interest from another club—a favored contender.

Continue for updates.    

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Turbin Works Out with Patriots

Thursday, Nov. 12

The New England Patriots gave Turbin a tryout this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, as they hope to bolster their beleaguered backfield in light of starter Dion Lewis' season-ending ACL injury he suffered in Week 9.    

Rapoport noted the Patriots also worked out former New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas, most recently of the San Francisco 49ers.

Turbin cleared waivers Wednesday, according to Field Yates of ESPN, and is eligible to sign with any team. The Browns claimed him off waivers on Sept. 10 after he spent three seasons as the reliable backup—when healthy—to Marshawn Lynch with the Seattle Seahawks, compiling 1,355 all-purpose yards as a dual threat. He rushed for 21 yards on two attempts against the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX last February.

This year, he had just 60 rush yards on 18 attempts in three games and never materialized as the Browns hoped. 

Should he get an offer, there arguably wouldn’t be a better destination for an attempt to revive his career—even if it’s only for the rest of the season.

Marc Sessler of NFL.com noted the irony that Turbin's path could align with the player whose void he’d possibly fill: "Turbin is bound to earn a tryout with another NFL team, but it's never a good sign when the Browns—the fifth-worst ground attack in the NFL—decide you can't help. Then again, this is the team that let Dion Lewis get away."      

Lewis missed each of the past two seasons because of a broken fibula suffered in 2013 while playing for the Browns and then was cut by several teams in 2014 before landing in New England, where he signed a two-year extension in October following a strong start. 

Lewis has amassed 234 rush yards, 388 receiving yards and four total touchdowns for the undefeated Patriots, who have only LeGarrette Blount, James White and Brandon Bolden listed as running backs on their current depth chart. 

New England ranks 26th in rush offense (94.8 yards per game) but utilizes backs in its pass-first scheme, which is why it's probably enticed by the versatility Turbin showed in Seattle.