Atlanta, Georgia: Falcons Place Brian Robinson Jr. on Injured Reserve, Sign Khalil Herbert Before Bengals Game in Madrid

The Atlanta Falcons placed running back Brian Robinson Jr. on injured reserve on Saturday, a move that will keep him out for at least four more games, and signed running back Khalil Herbert to the active roster from the practice squad. The team announced the batch of roster moves one day before Atlanta plays the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday.

Robinson is out at least four more games

Robinson has a hamstring injury. He had already missed the previous two games, and the team ruled him out for Sunday on Friday after he stayed limited in practice in Madrid during the week. The injured reserve move means his absence now runs at least four more games instead of ending when the hamstring improves.

Robinson, 27, has played six games for Atlanta this season. He rushed for 211 yards and four touchdowns on 53 carries, and he caught five passes for 30 yards. His four rushing touchdowns are tied for the team lead among running backs, so Atlanta loses a short yardage option it had used near the goal line.

Herbert steps in behind Bijan Robinson

Herbert knows the role he is taking. Atlanta elevated him from the practice squad in each of the last two weeks while Robinson was out, and Saturday the team signed him to the 53 man roster to hold the backup job behind Bijan Robinson for at least the next four weeks.

Chicago drafted Herbert in the sixth round in 2021, pick 217, out of Virginia Tech. He played for the Bears from 2021 to 2024, then Cincinnati in 2024 and the New York Jets in 2025 before joining Atlanta in 2026. In 65 career games, with 13 starts, he has 422 carries for 1,978 yards and nine touchdowns, plus 56 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns.

Pearce is activated, and two more return

The same announcement carried the news on the other side of the ball. Defensive end James Pearce Jr. has been activated after his eight game suspension, but he remains questionable for Sunday with a back injury. Atlanta also activated linebacker Yasir Abdullah and wide receiver Beaux Collins from injured reserve.

The team elevated defensive end Drake Jackson from the practice squad for Sunday. It is the third time Atlanta has elevated Jackson this season, which means the team will have to sign him to the active roster if he is to appear in another game after this one. Offensive tackle Cameron Williams, who has an ankle injury, was downgraded to out for Sunday.

Atlanta will name its inactive players 90 minutes before kickoff at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. With Robinson out, Herbert signed, and Pearce questionable, the final list will show how much of this Saturday shuffle actually reaches the field on Sunday.