The Atlanta Falcons’ roster math got a lot clearer once Ian Cunningham explained what drove it.
Atlanta came out of cutdown day with only two running backs on the 53-man roster: Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. Tyler Goodson, who looked like he had the No. 3 job secured, was instead stashed on the practice squad.
Trey Sermon went to injured reserve, and Nathan Carter and Cash Jones were waived. On the surface, it looked like a strange call for a team that spent the summer loading up at running back.
The answer, though, started somewhere else entirely.
Atlanta chose to carry four quarterbacks - Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa, Cooper Rush and rookie Jack Strand - and Cunningham called that “a little bit of an insurance policy,” citing the uncertainty around the team’s top two quarterbacks. That decision squeezed the rest of the roster, and running back ended up being one of the spots that took the hit.
This wasn’t the Falcons deciding they wanted less help behind Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson. It was a broader roster-building choice, with the backfield absorbing the consequences.
Goodson wasn’t cut loose, either. Atlanta kept him on its 16-player practice squad, which gives the team a third running back it can turn to if one of the top two goes down.
The Falcons also got a long look at him in training camp, where he made a strong impression.
Even more telling, Cunningham’s explanation suggested this setup may not last. He said the roster will probably change during the season and could look very different by Week 18.
If Penix stays healthy and proves he’s the clear starter, or if Atlanta gets more comfortable trimming its quarterback room, another spot could open up. Goodson would be the obvious beneficiary.
There’s also the possibility the Falcons decide they need more running back depth later on, especially with the wear and tear that comes with the position. In that scenario, Goodson’s familiarity with the offense and his work on special teams would make him a natural fit.
For now, Atlanta is betting on Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson to carry the load, with Goodson waiting in reserve. It’s an unusual setup, but the logic behind it is now easy to see: the Falcons chose quarterback depth, paid for it elsewhere, and still kept one of their best backup options close.
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For Penix, the move is a reminder that the path back is still the priority, not the depth chart. Atlanta clearly sees his rehabilitation as a longer process, and for now the job belongs to the quarterback who can take the first snap when Week 1 arrives. What happens after that will depend on how quickly Penix gets healthy and how much the Falcons are willing to wait. [Read more 🡒]