"I was born ready,'' said Robinson, a Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back, who could be called upon to start Sunday's CFL rematch against the home-town Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Veteran defensive back Eddie Davis missed Friday's practice to attend a family funeral in the U.S. Davis is expected to rejoin the Roughriders this weekend and assume his primary responsibility, which is to shut down Blue Bombers' game-breaking slotback Milt Stegall, a task that otherwise would fall to Robinson.
Robinson has been playing as an extra defensive back for the Roughriders; he shares the team lead in interceptions (three) with halfback Davin Bush. Moving Robinson into fulltime duty would leave the Roughriders needing an extra linebacker, so Stancil is also on standby.
"This is for an emergency situation, so I'm just trying to be prepared,'' said Stancil, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and missed Saskatchewan's last eight games.
While the Roughriders have won three straight games and improved their record to 6-5, good enough for third place in the West, their defence has been particularly stingy.
In 10 of their 11 games this season the Roughriders have not allowed a rusher to gain more than 100 yards. The only exception was Joffrey Reynolds, who carried 15 times for 110 yards and one touchdown in the Calgary Stampeders' 53-36 victory on July 8.
"It's kind of hard to see (Roberts) coming out of the backfield because those linemen are so big,'' said outside linebacker Reggie Hunt, whose 58 defensive tackles are second only to Blue Bombers middle linebacker Barrin Simpson's 68. "All he needs is a seam and he breaks away.
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