Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons HC Arthur Smith shrugs off potential Bijan Robinson controversy

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Oct 25, 2023 3:16 PM ET

Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith sounds unbothered about any potential controversy regarding the club not listing running back Bijan Robinson on the injury report ahead of this past Sunday's 16-13 win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"You're talking about sensationalized things," Smith told reporters on Wednesday, per Michael Rothstein of ESPN. "I understand outrage and drama sells. Guys, like, if you really understand how things really operate that there's nothing, there's nothing there. So I don't know what, I haven't given one second of thought about it."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that the NFL opened an inquiry after Robinson recorded just one carry for three yards on 11 offensive snaps against the Buccaneers. Following the game, the rookie admitted he began "feeling weird" on Saturday night and was dealing with headaches. While Atlanta didn't disclose anything about Robinson’s supposed illness ahead of the Tampa Bay game, Schefter added that the Falcons always assumed the 21-year-old would play against the Buccaneers "and therefore did not need" to add him to the injury report ahead of kickoff.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports also addressed the matter via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter:

Teams are required to list all injuries, including ones that pop up the night before. However, there was no doubt Robinson would play Sunday. The "questionable" designation is for when the team, per league rules, is "uncertain if player will play." There was no uncertainty in ATL
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) October 23, 2023

The NFL did away with the "probable" designation in 2016, which Robinson could have fallen under if it still existed. League will continue its inquiry this week.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) October 23, 2023

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio mentioned on Monday that the NFL would "follow up" with the Falcons about what did and/or didn't happen as it pertains to the club's injury reporting. The league has fined teams in the past for failing to adhere to its injury report policy, and Florio wrote that Atlanta "should be sanctioned for failing to disclose the (Robinson) situation."

Robinson returned to the practice field Wednesday and presumably is on track to start when the 4-3 Falcons play at the 2-4 Tennessee Titans Sunday.

As of Wednesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Falcons as three-point favorites against the Titans.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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