The Falcons improved to 4-3 with a win in Week 7 over the Buccaneers, though prized rookie Bijan Robinson was barely a factor for Atlanta’s offense.
The No. 8 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft carried the ball just one time during Sunday’s win, as he scarcely saw the field throughout the game, apart from a rush late in the fourth quarter, on the Falcons’ second to last running play of the game.
Robinson spoke to reporters after the game and explained the reason for his limited role, indicating that he’d been under the weather.
“My head was hurting. I was just going to try to see how I was going to feel on the field, and I was just going down. So I talked to Coach [Arthur] Smith, and he was like, ‘I don’t want to risk anything,’” said Robinson, via Miles Garrett of Fox 5 Atlanta.
VIDEO: We heard that Bijan Robinson wasn't feeling well.
— Miles Garrett (@MilesGarrettTV) October 22, 2023
He told us postgame he was dealing with a bad headache. Arthur Smith didn't want to test it. Said he was feeling it last night as well. pic.twitter.com/qKLaETxo4c
“It was more last night, it was like feeling weird. And then woke up just completely out of it. I was just trying to get some medicine, take medicine and everything so I could be good for the game. But my head was hurting bad,” he added.
The 21-year-old rushed one time for three yards in the win. While Robinson was on the sideline, the Falcons leaned on a rushing attack consisting of Tyler Allgeier, Cordarrelle Patterson, and quarterback Desmond Ridder.
The trio combined for 37 carries, 153 yards, and one touchdown, with Allgeier absorbing the bulk of Atlanta’s rushing snaps, logging 21 carries in the game.
