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Greg Robinson glad to be back on Rams’ offensive line, is up front about previous week’s disappointment

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Greg Robinson was happy to be back in the starting lineup at left tackle.

With Rodger Saffold inactive because of a hand injury, Robinson started Sunday in the Rams’ 26-10 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

Robinson, the second pick in the 2014 draft, had started 35 consecutive games as the quarterback’s blindside protector before Coach Jeff Fisher made the struggling lineman inactive for last week’s 49-21 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Robinson, who grew up in Louisiana about an hour from the Superdome, said this week that he was disappointed because more than 50 relatives and friends — including his mother and grandmother — had hoped to see him play.

Saffold started in Robinson’s spot, but suffered a hand injury that forced seldom-used Andrew Donnal to finish the game.

So Robinson was motivated Sunday. He said after the game that he had “much to prove” and had to “make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

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“I’m thankful, honestly,” he said. “It was frustrating last week just to watch from the sideline, but there’s many things I wish I could get back and not playing is one of them.

“But I feel like it was something to build off of and try to get better next week.”

Robinson was flagged for his 13th penalty of the season in the third quarter, a holding call that negated a 10-yard pass that would have given the Rams a first down. The Rams allowed rookie quarterback Jared Goff to be sacked four times and to incur five other quarterback hits.

“The outside blitz, we didn’t see that pre-snap, we didn’t see that coming,” Robinson said. “But other than that, I feel like we picked up everything pretty well. … We have to help out Jared, and that starts with protections, executing those things we’re focusing on in practice.”

Receiver Tavon Austin and defensive lineman Robert Quinn were inactive Sunday because of chest and concussion issues, respectively.

Rookie Pharoh Cooper played in Austin’s place. He was targeted four times and caught one pass for eight yards. He also returned four punts for eight yards.

Eugene Sims started in place of Quinn. He made two tackles for a defense that did not sack Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

First impression

A thin secondary took another hit in the second quarter when cornerback E.J. Gaines suffered a quadriceps injury and didn’t return. Gaines was replaced by rookie Mike Jordan, who was promoted from the practice squad two weeks ago after Troy Hill was released in the wake of his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Hill was subsequently re-signed to the practice squad.

Jordan, an undrafted free agent from Missouri Western State, played the final 2 1/2 quarters and was targeted by Brady so often that he must have felt like he had a bull’s-eye on his back.

But “Err Jordan,” he wasn’t. Jordan was the primary defender on four New England completions that totaled 49 yards in the second quarter, but he was not burned for any long gains in the second half, and finished with five tackles, three assists and one pass defended.

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“Of course, I had my rookie mistakes at times, a couple of missed tackles, a couple of missed alignments,” the 24-year-old Jordan said. “But overall, I think I did all right.”

His best play came late in the second quarter, when he accurately read a quick screen to the left side, sidestepped two blockers and tackled receiver Malcom Mitchell for a three-yard loss.

“He competed, he communicated, he came in with confidence,” safety T.J. McDonald said of Jordan. “He did a great job.”

Familiar faces

Patriots defensive end Chris Long and Rams defensive tackle Dominique Easley played for the first time against their former teams.

Long, a ninth-year pro, was selected by the Rams with the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft. He was released in the off-season as part of a salary purge. He has said he understood the move and held no ill will.

Long had one sack, for nine yards, and three quarterback hurries.

“Everything happens for a reason,” he said. “I’m very blessed to be a part of this team.”

Easley, a first-round pick in 2014, was released by the Patriots after two seasons. He said before the game that there was no special motivation playing against them.

Easley did not have a tackle Sunday.

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