The Falcons have added another body to the running back room, but the message in Atlanta hasn’t changed: this is Bijan Robinson’s backfield.
During training camp, the team brought in former 49ers running back Trey Sermon on a free-agent deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Schefter reported, “Falcons signed veteran free-agent running back Trey Sermon,” and Sermon will now try to carve out a backup role.
Atlanta’s depth chart behind Robinson is taking shape, with Sermon joining a group that also includes Brian Robinson, Tyler Goodson, Nathan Carter, and undrafted rookie Cash Jones. The Falcons are looking for help after losing Allgeier in free agency to the Arizona Cardinals, which opens the door for someone to take on some of the carry load behind their star runner.
Sermon’s NFL journey has been a nomadic one. He hasn’t played for San Francisco since the 2021-22 season, when he appeared in nine games and made two starts.
If he gets into a game for Atlanta, it would be his fifth team in six NFL seasons. He spent last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played in four games but didn’t get a rush attempt or a target.
The former third-round pick has yet to stick for long anywhere. Over his first five professional seasons, Sermon has totaled 505 rushing yards and three touchdowns across 46 games, including five starts.
Still, the Falcons’ offensive identity at running back is clear. Robinson is coming off an August extension worth three years and $66.75 million, and he’s already built a resume that puts him in a different tier. Through three NFL seasons, the 24-year-old has piled up 3,910 rushing yards, 1,738 receiving yards, and 34 total touchdowns, with 25 on the ground and nine through the air.
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Falcons May Have A James Pearce Jr. Problem To Open The Season
The early-season picture around Atlanta got a little murkier after Adam Schefter said on his podcast that several NFL players, including Falcons outside linebacker James Pearce Jr., are among the cases under review for possible discipline before the season begins. Schefter grouped Pearce Jr. with players such as Puka Nacua, Josh Jacobs, Jonathon Cooper, Alaric Jackson and Tyreek Hill, noting that more clarity is expected by the time the regular season arrives.
For the Falcons, the concern is less about whether the situation will linger and more about how long it might last once the league makes its call. Atlanta is reportedly bracing for a significant absence for Pearce Jr., and the uncertainty around the final ruling leaves the team planning for life without a player it expected to count on right away. [Read more 🡒]