ESPN’s latest preseason NFL power rankings don’t move the Atlanta Falcons anywhere meaningful, leaving them at No. 26 again. The more notable item tucked into the update is the milestone watch on Bijan Robinson, who could go after a long-standing record for yards from scrimmage by a player before turning 25.
The mark belongs to Clinton Portis, who piled up 7,059 scrimmage yards before his 25th birthday with Denver and Washington in the early 2000s. Robinson starts this season at 5,648 career scrimmage yards, which means he needs 1,412 more before Jan. 30, 2027, to move into first place.
Marc Raimondi laid out the path pretty clearly: Robinson led the league with 135 scrimmage yards per game last season, and if he keeps that same pace in 2026, he would be within striking distance by Week 11.
That’s the kind of company Robinson is already being mentioned with, and it makes sense. He just signed a new contract that made him the highest-paid running back in the NFL, and the expectation is that he’s headed for a season with historic upside. Portis’ record may be the first thing on the list, but it may not be the last.
There’s also another target sitting in the background. Since 2009, the single-season record for scrimmage yards has belonged to former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson at just over 2,500. If the Falcons don’t hand all of Tyler Allgeier’s reps to the backups, Robinson should have enough volume to not only challenge that number, but blow past it.
In Other News...
Falcons QB Plan May Already Be Telling Fans Everything About Penix
The Falcons quarterback picture is already carrying more intrigue than most teams would want this early, and Michael Penix Jr. remains at the center of it. According to NFL Networks Cameron Wolfe, Atlanta intends to get a real look at Penix at some point so it can better evaluate him ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft, even if Tua Tagovailoa opens the season against the Steelers. For a team that has spent the offseason trying to settle its future under center, that plan says plenty about how seriously the Falcons are weighing their long-term options.
Penixs path back is also being handled with care after the ACL injury he suffered in 2025, which could shape how the early-season rotation unfolds. Atlanta has not decided who will start in 2026, and both Penix and Tagovailoa remain in the conversation, so the next few months may be less about one game than about how the organization maps out its quarterback timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Took A Risk Up Front They Could Regret Fast
The Falcons defensive front has been in flux, and the latest roster shuffle showed just how thin the margin can get. General manager Ian Cunningham said waiving Zach Harrison to make room for three waiver claims was a difficult decision, a reminder that Atlanta is trying to patch together depth while injuries and suspensions continue to hit the group up front.
Harrison did not stay away long, returning to the Falcons on the practice squad, where his presence still matters for a line trying to hold together through the turbulence. Even without a spot on the active roster, he gives Atlanta veteran leadership and another body to lean on, which makes the original move look less like a clean cut and more like a risk the team may have to manage all over again. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Practice Squad Move May Be Hinting At Another O-Line Decision
With Kyle Hinton and Kam Dewberry both dealing with injuries, the Falcons added another body to the interior offensive line mix by signing Josh Thompson to the practice squad. Thompson, an undrafted free agent out of LSU, spent the summer with the Kansas City Chiefs and now steps into one of Atlantas remaining practice squad openings as the team tries to keep some depth around a position group that has already been tested.
The move is straightforward on its face, but it also naturally raises questions about what comes next for the Falcons up front. Practice squad additions are often about coverage and contingency, and with guard depth suddenly thin, this one feels like it could be tied to a short-term roster adjustment if the injuries linger. For now, though, Atlanta is simply making sure it has another interior lineman available while the picture sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]