Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson Offers Bizarre Explanation For Leaving Week 7 Game

Atlanta Falcons star rookie running back Bijan Robinson gave an odd answer as to why he missed most of the team’s victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7. Robinson touched the ball one time all game for three yards.

Falcons fans were upset with head coach Arthur Smith near halftime after noticing Atlanta was not featuring Robinson in the running game. Smith said during the game that Robinson was not feeling well.

Smith’s answer didn’t provide any clarity. Reporters asked Robinson why he came out of the game, but his answer was bizarre. Per video posted by Miles Garrett with Fox 5, Robinson said a headache was to blame for his absence Sunday.

“It was more last night. It was like feeling weird, and then (I) woke up just completely out of it,” Robinson said. “I was just trying to see how I was gonna feel on the field, and I was just going down. So I talked with Coach Smith, and he was like, ‘I don’t wanna risk anything.’

We have Tyler [Allgeier], [Cordarrelle Patterson], and they did really well today. Those are my brothers. But yeah, it was really tough this morning.”

Patterson said he tried to get rid of his headache before the game.

“I was trying to get like some medicine, take medicine and everything so I can be good for the game. But, yeah, my head was hurting bad. I don’t know what was going on. I tried to go pregame, but then Coach Smith was just, ‘We’ll be all right, get you right for next week.’”

A headache is not something you hear often for a reason a football player misses a game. A concussion, sure, but Robinson didn’t have a concussion. Not everyone on social media is convinced a headache was the real cause of Robinson not playing.

Atlanta Falcons fans, NFL fans and NFL fantasy managers alike spent a lot of Sunday’s late win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wondering where Bijan Robinson was.

The eighth overall pick in this year’s draft has impressed so far in 2023, showing elite speed, agility and pass catching ability as a running back.

Robinson had played over 60% of snaps in every game before Week 7, but things could not have been more different in Tampa.

The running back’s only touch of the game came in the final minute of the game – carrying for a three yard gain.

Speaking to the media after the game, Robinson said he had been dealing with a headache and head coach Arthur Smith did not want to risk the running back having a heavy workload.

Robinson told the media: “My head was hurting, I talked to coach Smith and he said he didn’t want to risk anything.

“We had Tyler [Allgeier] and CP [Cordarrelle Patterson] and they did really well today, they are my brothers.

“It was feeling weird last night, and I woke up completely out of it so I took some medicine to be good for the game, but it was hurting bad.

“I tried to go pregame but coach Smith just said to get right for next week.”