The Falcons will head into Sunday’s Week 9 matchup with the Bengals missing a key piece in the backfield. Brian Robinson Jr. has been placed on injured reserve because of a lower-body injury, leaving Atlanta without its backup running back as it tries to bounce back from last week’s 16-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the move, writing: “Falcons placed RB Brian Robinson Jr. on injured reserve,” Schefter reported.
Robinson, 27, has been dealing with a lingering hamstring issue and will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks. He has already sat out the past two games, with his last appearance coming in Atlanta’s 31-23 Week 6 loss to the Chicago Bears. Because the Falcons have a Week 11 bye, the IR minimum means Robinson will also miss the next three games, and the earliest he can return is Week 13 against the Detroit Lions.
That’s a real hit for Atlanta’s offense. Robinson has given the Falcons useful production in short-yardage situations and has been a steady complement in the backfield. In six games this season, the former third-round pick has rushed 53 times for 211 yards and four touchdowns.
To help cover the loss, Atlanta signed Khalil Herbert from the practice squad to the active roster, according to James Palmer of NFL on Prime. Herbert now gets a chance to step into the backup role behind Bijan Robinson over the next several weeks.
“Falcons have placed running back Brian Robinson Jr. on the reserve/injured list. In a corresponding move, the club has signed running back Khalil Herbert to the active roster from the practice squad,” Palmer posted on X.
The Falcons and Bengals will open Sunday’s slate, and the game will also be the second-ever regular-season contest played in Spain.
In Other News...
Falcons Suddenly Have A Week 9 Depth Chart Problem In Madrid
The Falcons trip to Madrid has already brought a little roster churn, with the team moving edge rushers Drake Jackson and Jared Ivey off the 53-man roster and onto the practice squad ahead of Week 9 against the Bengals. It is the kind of adjustment that usually signals a team trying to keep its depth intact for the long haul, but in this case it also reflects a defense that is suddenly juggling availability at a key spot.
Samson Ebukam has landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, while James Pearce Jr. is back from suspension but still listed as questionable because of a back issue. On the other side of the ball, the Falcons will be without wide receiver Zachariah Branch and running back Brian Robinson Jr., leaving Olamide Zaccheaus and Khalil Herbert in line for bigger roles as Atlanta tries to sort out a thin depth chart in an unusual setting. [Read more 🡒]
Drake London Adds To Falcons Frustration After Costly Tampa Mistake
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Now the focus shifts to Madrid, where the Falcons are set to face the Cincinnati Bengals, and London has already pointed to the teams work to clean things up after the defeat. Even with the next trip on the schedule, the aftermath from Tampa lingers a little longer thanks to the leagues latest discipline, another reminder of how costly that afternoon was for Atlanta. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Should Avoid This Trade Deadline Temptation
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ESPNs Dan Graziano floated the possibility of the receiver being available, but there are enough reasons for Atlanta to stay cautious. The fit comes with questions beyond the on-field talent, including concerns about character and the kind of premium price a trade would demand, which is why this looks more like a rumor worth monitoring than a move the Falcons are likely to make. [Read more 🡒]