James Robinson, Dean Lowry and the rest of the NFL locals try to work themselves in

Five Rockford-area locals are currently in NFL training camps either battling for roster spots or starting nods, and two of the area's stars are trying to work themselves into new homes.

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James Robinson, the former Lutheran star and Illinois State University standout — and the IHSA's all-time leading rusher — is in camp with the New York Giants after bouncing around a bit this offseason. Dean Lowry started his tenure as a Minnesota Viking after he was picked up in free agency last spring.

Here is what they are doing so far in camp, as well as the other three NFL players from the Rockford area:

James Robinson, RB, N.Y. Giants

Size, seasons, position and schools: 5-9, 219-pound fourth-year running back out of Rockford Lutheran High School and Illinois State University

Career NFL stats: In 39 games (32 starts) he has 2,262 yards rushing on 514 carries (4.4 yards per carry) with 18 TDs. He also has 91 receptions for 617 yards and 5 TDs through the air.

Best year: His first season when he rushed for 1,070 yards and added 344 yards receiving to set a record for total yards but as an undrafted rookie with the Jaguars. He started 14 games that year and scored 10 touchdowns.

Goal for this season: It is most likely to make the Giants' roster, which won't be an easy task as they are deep at running back. He signed a 1-year, $1,010,000 contract over the summer, but still has some work to do to see the field.

On Friday, Robinson and the Giants pulled out to a 21-3 lead and moved to 1-1 in the preseason with a 21-19 win over the Carolina Panthers. However, Robinson was fairly ineffective, despite getting a decent workload. He had 10 yards on four carries in the second preseason game, and he was the second running back to come in after Matt Breida for the second straight game. Barkley hasn't played yet this preseason.

Robinson rushed six times for nine yards and wasn't targeted in the passing game in a 21-16 loss to the Lions in the preseason opener.

Questions remain about his burst after he tore his Achilles tendon late in the 2021 season. He averaged just 2.9 yards per rush last year after being traded from the Jaguars to the Jets and was then waived by the New England Patriots just three months after signing a deal in the offseason.

Dean Lowry, DL, Minnesota Vikings

Size, seasons, position and schools: 6-6, 296-pound eighth-year defensive lineman out of Rockford Boylan High School and Northwestern University

Career NFL stats: In 111 games (80 starts), has 252 tackles, 15 1/2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, and 4 fumble recoveries

Best year: Had a career-high 47 tackles and that interception in 2019, but also tallied five sacks and four passes defensed in 2021.

Goal for this season: To cement his spot on the Vikings' front line on defense, as he did in Green Bay.

Lowry has yet to earn a tackle or any statistic this preseason, but he will get his chances once the season starts. He's listed as the Vikings' first-string defensive end in front of Jonathan Bullard, and he will be relied upon to stuff the run all season long. We will find out how his pass-rushing skills have developed as well, as he'll be in a rotation, but will get shots on passing downs as well.

Dan Arnold, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

Size, seasons, position and schools: 6-6, 240-pound seventh-year tight end at Rockford Boylan and then the University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Career NFL stats: In 59 career games (11 starts), he has 95 catches for 1,258 yards and seven touchdowns.

Best year: With the Cardinals in 2020 when he caught 31 passes for 438 yards and 4 TDs

Goal for this season: Arnold, 28, has played for the Saints, the Cardinals, Panthers and the Jaguars, and his goal for this year is most likely to try and prove himself (again), and stick with a team. Arnold was a star wide receiver at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and was also the 2016 NCAA Division III runner-up in the 60-meter hurdles, so he clearly has the athleticism. But he's bounced around, and last year had only nine catches for 135 yards in 17 games as a reserve tight end in Jacksonville.

Robert Jones, OL, Miami Dolphins

Size, seasons, position and schools: 6-4, 325-pound third-year offensive lineman out of Rockford East and Middle Tennessee State

Best year: Last year he played in 15 games, and started in seven.

Goal for this season: The Dolphins are 1-1 this preseason, and after scoring just three points in an opening loss, they rolled to a 28-3 win over Houston on Saturday. Jones was the Dolphins' second-team right guard last year but he wound up playing at three different spots. He's listed as the back-up right guard again this preseason and has played well so far.

Vederian Lowe, OL, Minnesota Vikings

Size, NFL seasons, position and schools: 6-6, 320-pound second-year offensive lineman out of Rockford Auburn High School and the University of Illinois

Best year: As a rookie last year, he played in four games for Minnesota

Goal for this season: Lowe was a sixth-round draft pick by the Vikings two years ago, and the former Auburn star is trying to lock himself in as a lineman of the future for Minnesota. He was the team's third-string left tackle last year, and played sparingly. He's listed as the second-string left tackle this year.

Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and follow him on Twitter at @JayTaft. Sign up for the Rockford High School newsletter at rrstar.com. Jay has covered a wide variety of sports, from the Chicago Bears to youth sports, since the turn of the century at the Register Star, and for over 30 years all together.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: How James Robinson, Dean Lowry and others are faring in NFL preseason