Khalil Herbert didn’t arrive in Atlanta with much fanfare, and for a while, he barely registered. Signed to the Falcons’ practice squad in September, he spent most of October waiting for a real chance. Then Brian Robinson Jr.’s hamstring injury opened the door, and Herbert has made the most of it.
Robinson missed Weeks 7 and 8, and while the injury didn’t seem especially serious at first, the situation worsened when he suffered a setback in practice. Atlanta then placed him on injured reserve before the loss to the Bengals in Madrid, leaving Herbert as the new No. 2 in the backfield.
That matters now more than ever, because Atlanta is staring down one of the toughest NFL schedules over the next four weeks. The lack of depth behind the top backs could easily be a problem. But Herbert’s recent work has at least given the Falcons something to lean on.
His first real action came in Week 6 against the 49ers, and he contributed in plenty of ways. Herbert logged a couple of strong returns for 65 yards overall, including a 38-yard burst where he kept bouncing off tackles to kick off the third quarter. He also made his presence felt as a blocker, flying around on kickoffs and laying into Zach Branch with a big block that helped spring Branch’s 60-yard return.
He chipped in on offense too, catching a delayed screen from Michael Penix Jr. and nearly turning it into a touchdown after working around TE Nick Muse. He was stopped just short of the goal line. Herbert finished that game with one catch for 19 yards, plus two carries for 9 yards.
He kept it going the next week against the Bucs, even if the numbers weren’t flashy. In difficult conditions and with the line struggling, Herbert still produced 44 all-purpose yards. That included a 29-yard kick return, four rushes for 12 yards, and a 3-yard reception.
By Week 9, though, special teams became the real story. Herbert had gone over 25 yards on all of his kick returns before that game, and against the Bengals he took it up another notch.
He had six return attempts for 157 total yards, with a long of 39 yards and a 26-yard average against his former team. He also added one carry for 7 yards and two catches for 2 yards, finishing with 166 all-purpose yards in limited action behind Bijan Robinson, who went off.
Over the last three games, Herbert has averaged 4.0 yards per carry on 7 touches, 6 yards per catch on 4 receptions, and about 28 yards per return on 9 total touches. He’s not the kind of player who grabs headlines every week, but he brings toughness, dependable hands, and useful field-position help. For a RB2 and depth piece, that’s exactly the kind of steady production Atlanta needs.
In Other News...
Giants Deadline Aggression Was Bigger Than Fans Realized
The trade deadline chatter around New York was not limited to its own roster, and one of the more surprising calls reportedly reached Atlanta. The Giants were said to have explored a deal for Bijan Robinson, a sign of just how aggressively they were searching for help before the deadline and how highly they viewed the Falcons running back.
From Atlantas side, the idea never really had much traction. Robinson is seen as a franchise cornerstone, and the Falcons recently locked him in with a new deal, making any move for him a long shot from the start. With New York also pulling back from its pursuit of Jonathan Taylor, the Giants appear set to move forward with what they have, while Atlanta continues building around one of its most important offensive pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Fans Will Want To Know How Far This Bijan Pursuit Went
The Giants spent the 2026 NFL trade deadline exploring ways to shake up their roster, but they came away empty-handed after failing to complete any deals. Among the names they reportedly checked on were Jeffery Simmons, Jonathan Taylor and Bijan Robinson, a sign they were at least kicking the tires on a major move before deciding to stand pat.
For Falcons fans, the Robinson mention is the one worth filing away. Atlanta has treated him like a centerpiece since handing him a three-year extension worth up to $75 million this offseason, and the fact that his name surfaced in deadline chatter only underscores how much league-wide interest there is in the running back. For now, the Giants will keep moving forward with Cam Skattebo in the backfield, while the Falcons can at least take note of how far the pursuit apparently went. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Changed Their Offensive Line Plan In A Big Way
The Falcons have altered the middle of their offensive line in a notable way, moving on from Ryan Neuzil after he spent the past two seasons as their full-time starting center. In return, Atlanta added guard Andrew Vorhees, a player who has already logged 22 starts for Baltimore since entering the league in 2023, along with a 2028 sixth-round draft pick.
The deal leaves a clear opening at center, and Corey Levin now appears to be in line for the first real chance to step into that role. For a line that has been trying to settle itself, this is a significant shift in the plan, with Atlanta betting on a different mix up front as it reshapes the interior around Vorhees and whatever comes next at center. [Read more 🡒]