Falcons head coach Arthur Smith invited the NFL to waste its time looking into the injury stats and usage of running back Bijan Robinson last week while Atlanta focuses on keeping control of the NFC South lead.
“Everything is transparent,” Smith said Wednesday.
Smith was responding to questions about reports the NFL would look into the sequence of events that led to Robinson being active but only playing a bit part while sick. He was not listed on injury reports prior to the 16-13 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Smith said Atlanta (4-3) is tuned tightly into planning for the Tennessee Titans this week, not the timing around the team reporting Robinson’s illness a week ago.
“You’re talking about sensationalized things,” Smith said Wednesday. “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.”
Robinson, the Falcons’ first-round pick, played 11 snaps and had one carry for three yards in Week 7 against the Bucs. He was not targeted in the passing game.
Atlanta’s win gave the Falcons sole possession of first place in the NFC South entering Week 8 for the first time since the team’s most recent Super Bowl season.
Robinson has 404 rushing yards and 189 receiving yards on the season.
Robinson said he was “feeling weird” Saturday night and woke up ill and experiencing headaches. But he was not put through concussion baseline testing or given a COVID-19 test by the Falcons.
ESPN first reported the NFL would investigate the timing of Robinson’s symptoms and whether he should have been tested or further evaluated.
Smith shut down further questions about Robinson’s status and said he was ready for Wednesday’s practice.
“We’ll talk about the Tennessee Titans, and the big game we’ve got going on,” Smith said.
–Field Level Media