The Falcons are reshuffling their backfield again, and this time Brian Robinson Jr. is the one heading to Injured Reserve.
Atlanta announced Saturday that Robinson will sit out at least the next four games because of a hamstring injury, a move that comes after he had already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He had missed the previous two contests with the same issue and was limited in practice all week in Madrid, but he never got back to full availability.
With Robinson unavailable, the Falcons are turning to Khalil Herbert and signing him to the active roster. Herbert has already been handling Robinson’s spot over the last two weeks, giving Atlanta another body behind Bijan Robinson in the running back rotation. Through two games this season, Herbert has six carries for 21 yards and two catches for 22 yards.
Herbert’s usage in Atlanta has been modest, but the team knows what he can do with more work. In Chicago, he put up 731 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 2022, then followed that with 611 rushing yards and two scores in 2023.
Robinson’s latest stretch ends with 211 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 53 carries across six games, plus five receptions for 30 yards. His four rushing touchdowns were tied for the team lead among running backs.
That leaves Atlanta leaning even more on Bijan Robinson, who has carried the load this season with 780 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 150 carries. Herbert’s role as a complementary piece becomes even more important now that Brian Robinson is out of the mix.
The Falcons also made a handful of other roster moves before Sunday’s international game. Linebacker Yasir Abdullah and wide receiver Beaux Collins were activated from Injured Reserve, while defensive end Drake Jackson was elevated to the active roster.
Defensive end James Pearce Jr. has been activated after serving an eight-game suspension, though he is still questionable for the game because of a back injury. Offensive tackle Cameron Williams was downgraded to out.
So Atlanta heads into Sunday with a backfield change, a few reinforcements, and a few more injury questions to sort through. Herbert now gets a chance to stake his claim as the top backup while the Falcons try to keep their ground game moving against Cincinnati.
In Other News...
Falcons Face A Jessie Bates Deadline Decision Fans Will Watch Closely
With the trade deadline approaching, the Falcons appear set to take a cautious approach, with the front office more likely to look for draft capital than to move out important pieces. Atlantas 3-5 record has not pushed the team toward a fire sale, and Jessie Bates has emerged as one of the more notable names drawing outside interest as teams check on the market.
Bates is a pending free agent and a 2023 Pro Bowler, which naturally makes him a player rival clubs would ask about, but a deal still looks like a long shot. His salary is a hurdle, and Atlanta does not appear eager to absorb money just to make a trade easier, especially with Bates still operating as a full-time starter next to rookie Xavier Watts. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Need Bijan Robinson To Snap Out Of This Slump Fast
Bijan Robinson opened the 2026 season looking every bit like the engine of Atlantas offense, stacking multiple games with more than 100 scrimmage yards and giving the Falcons the kind of backfield production that can tilt a game plan. Over the last four weeks, though, the rhythm has changed. The touches are still there, but the same explosive finish has been harder to find, and Robinson has already acknowledged to reporters that his recent play has not matched his standard.
The timing matters because Atlanta heads into Week 9 against Cincinnati with a matchup that should be there for the taking on the ground. The Bengals have been vulnerable enough in run defense to give Robinson a path back toward the kind of impact the Falcons need from him, especially as they try to steady an offense that has leaned on him all season. For Atlanta, the question is less whether the opportunity will be there and more whether Robinson can turn it into the kind of statement outing that resets the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Bijan Robinson Just Gave Falcons Fans A Perfect Spain Game Moment
The NFLs push into Spain got an easy win before kickoff when Bijan Robinson showed up around the Week 9 game in Madrid wearing a Real Madrid jersey. For a league trying to plant deeper roots overseas, it was the kind of crossover moment that lands instantly with a local crowd, and it fit Robinsons profile as one of the most visible young stars in the sport. He enters the game leading the NFL in rushing yards through eight weeks, and he is expected to be on the field against the Bengals.
For Atlanta, it is a reminder that Robinsons appeal stretches well beyond the usual NFL audience. A player who can draw attention in a soccer-mad city like Madrid gives the Falcons a rare chance to connect with new fans in a setting built for that kind of exposure. The league wanted a showcase in Spain, and Robinson gave it one before the first snap even mattered. [Read more 🡒]