Arthur Smith reveals Falcons RB Bijan Robinson 'just not feeling all that great' vs. Bucs

Mystery arose in the first half of the Falcons’ game against the Buccaneers when rookie RB Bijan Robinson received zero carries in the first half. But now, we have an answer.

According to Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith, Robinson is ill and “just not feeling all that great.”

Falcons reporter Tori McElhaney posted the report of Smith’s comments to Twitter and added: “Don’t expect him to play much more.”

So, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is just not right today and it looks like he’ll be sidelined for much, if not all, of the game.

McElhaney actually got those comments from Smith via sideline reporter Kristina Pink, who gave the full update on the Robinson situation during the broadcast:

“Well, I’m not sure we’ll see much more from Bijan Robinson’s usage here in the second half. I asked Arthur Smith about the no touches and he said: ‘Look, he’s just not feeling all that great.’ And that’s all he said.”

Pink added the following observations from Smith on the first half of the game:

“Offensively, he thought they moved the ball well. Defensively, they extended drives with some penalties. They need to clean that up in the second half.”

Steve Sarkisian proud of Robinson’s early success

Through six games this season, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has lived up to the hype that comes with being a first-round pick.

And not just any first-round pick — Robinson was the eighth overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, an anomaly in the present day. All Robinson has done is produce, as the 21-year-old has rushed for 401 yards on a healthy 5.0 yards per carry, to go along with 26 receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns.

His instant impact in the NFL is no surprise to Texas head football coach Steve Sarkisian, who got a front row seat at watching Robinson carve up college football defenses for two years.

“It’s amazing,” Sarkisian said this week. “We have an idea as coaches of maybe how guys will translate to the NFL. It’s a little bit of a different game obviously, but his skill set is so unique, and when you can make people miss in a phone booth and then get to top speed, it doesn’t matter what league you’re in. He doesn’t lose that skill set that he has.

“So, I think the one thing every time I’ve bumped into a couple scouts from the Falcons who have been at practices, they say the same thing I used to say for the last two years here. He’s a better person than he is a player. So Bijan is still being Bijan whether it’s off the field and/or on the field and I think that’s so exciting as ever.”