Falcons running back Bijan Robinson misses OTAs with ankle injury
Keep in mind, it’s only May with plenty of time to heal. But Falcons running back Bijan Robinson missed practice on Tuesday because of an ankle injury.
Atlanta is going through OTAs, so everything is voluntary. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, who is in his first season with the Falcons, confirmed to reporters that Robinson wasn’t working out. Two other players — defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (knee) and sixth-round running back Jase McClellan (foot) also are not practicing.
Robinson is an integral piece of the Falcons’ offense. Atlanta selected the former Texas Longhorn standout with the eighth pick of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He also was the first running back off the board.
And he did well as a rookie, rushing for 976 yards on 214 carries. Plus, he caught 58 passes for 487 yards.
The Falcons have finished 7-10 the past three seasons, prompting the team to make a change at head coach. Arthur Smith, the former head coach, now is the offensive coordinator with the Steelers.
Atlanta invested in the offense this off-season. The Falcons, believing they were a decent quarterback away from the playoffs, signed Kirk Cousins via free agency from the Vikings. Cousins is 35 and is considered one of the better quarterbacks in the NFC.
Meanwhile, the Falcons shocked the NFL and all the draft analysts when they selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr with the eighth pick of the first round. After investing so much in Cousins, most believed Atlanta would select a defensive player at No. 8. Instead, they grabbed the fifth quarterback off the board.
Penix and the rest of the rookie class were in Atlanta this weekend for their first team minicamp. The quarterback will wear No. 9 with the Falcons. The number has been his preference since high school. And he selected the jersey number to honor his uncle, who played for South Florida. The uncle invited Penix to his first-ever college game.
Putting on the jersey in Atlanta also checked an item off of Penix’s bucket list. “This is something I’ve been dreaming of since I was a kid,” Penix told reporters. “Now that I’m here, I want to continue to prove myself every day. Show not just myself but the team, I’m here. I’m here to work and here to help this team win football games any way that I can.”
After rookie minicamp finished, the Falcons announced several roster moves. Atlanta signed tight end Ross Dwelley as well as three players who tried out for roster spots. Thirteen prospects attended the rookie camp to try out for the team.
Dwelley played for the 49ers last season. San Francisco signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He has started 17 games and played in 84 in his six seasons.
The three players who earned spots via tryout are safety Dane Cruikshank, defensive lineman Bradlee Anae and wide receiver Dylan Drummond.
The Titans selected Cruikshank in the fifth round of the 2018 draft. He signed with the Bears in 2022, then went back to the Titans in 2023. He appeared in only two games last season in Tennessee. The Dallas Cowboys picked Anae in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. His last season was in 2021. The Lions signed Drummond last season as a free agent.
The Falcons now have 89 players on the roster. That means they are one under the NFL maximum for training camp.