Bijan Robinson debut: Falcons' rookie RB impresses with big run, one-handed catch in preseason contest vs. Bengals

Nick Brinkerhoff

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Bijan Robinson debut: Falcons' rookie RB impresses with big run, one-handed catch in preseason contest vs. Bengals image

The Dirty Birds are trying to clean up their offense in 2023.

Drafting Bijan Robinson should help that. 

The former Texas Longhorns star was declared by many as the best player in the draft, putting great expectations in place for the rookie this season. Rising to that level could be almost impossible, but the Falcons' running back seeks to soar to new heights in the NFL. 

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Robinson only played on the opening drive for Atlanta in the Week 2 preseason matchup against the Bengals, but it didn't take long to make a great first impression. Here's how the No. 8 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft looked in his preseason debut.

Bijan Robinson stats vs. Bengals

The great running back debate of 2023 has raged on for quite some time, but Robinson did his best to silence those critics on Friday night. 

The rookie running back opened the night with a 12-yard carry, effortlessly galloping in between the tackles and making Cincinnati defenders look silly trying to catch him.

Despite most of the players wearing white jerseys being in the same area, Robinson made them look like they were in a different zip code before going down after picking up a new set of downs. 

Robinson's contributions were part of a long opening drive from the Falcons' offense, something that wasn't common in 2022. Though penalties plagued Arthur Smith's unit, quarterback Desmond Ridder looked comfortable, completing 7 of 9 passes, including one to No. 7 out of the backfield, who reeled in a one-handed catch with ease. 

On the night, Robinson totaled four carries for 20 rushing yards and one catch, on his only target, for six yards.

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It's only preseason, but Atlanta looked transformed on offense with a new weapon in the backfield. Although 20-play drives that travel 106 yards without scoring aren't sustainable in the long run, it's hard to not be encouraged by what the team put on tape. 

As for Robinson, those two plays might've been the highlights, but he looks like someone that belongs. And for Falcons fans, it's hard to not walk away excited about that. 

Nick Brinkerhoff

Nick Brinkerhoff Photo

Nick Brinkerhoff is a content producer at The Sporting News covering the NFL, NBA and other sports. A proud New Jerseyan, Nick is also a graduate of Rutgers University. He is always in the mood for a good joke, the day’s best bets, or a debate about the mediocrity of the New York sports scene.