Brian Robinson Out for Falcons in Madrid

Brian Robinson Jr. is out for the Atlanta Falcons' Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid with a hamstring injury, the team and NFL.com confirmed Friday. Wide receiver Zachariah Branch (hamstring) is also out. The Falcons and Bengals kick at 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network in the league's Madrid international slot, with Atlanta carrying the home designation.

Robinson was limited Friday after working through the hamstring all week at Real Madrid's training grounds. The designation removes Atlanta's No. 2 back for a short-week international game and puts the early-down and change-of-pace work back on Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.

Hamstring Ends the Madrid Week

Falcons reporters had left the door cracked earlier in the week. Friday closed it. Robinson is out. Branch joins him on the out list with his own hamstring issue after Kevin Stefanski had already pointed that way midweek.

Billy Bowman Jr. is cleared after a hamstring of his own and practiced fully all week. Divine Deablo (forearm), James Pearce Jr. (back), Cameron Williams (ankle), Beaux Collins (hip), and Yasir Abdullah (hamstring) are questionable. Pearce is back from an eight-game suspension but on a pitch count if he plays.

Bijan and Allgeier Carry Madrid

With Brian Robinson Jr. inactive, Bijan Robinson remains the clear lead back and Allgeier is the next man up on early downs and short yardage. That is the depth chart, not a guess. Cincinnati lists Kyle Dugger (quad) out and Cedric Johnson (ankle/foot) questionable on its Friday sheet.

Madrid in November is a different travel week for both sides. Atlanta still has Michael Penix Jr. and Drake London in the pass game. Losing the second back just tightens the first 15 run calls around Bijan and Allgeier.

Atlanta practiced all week in Madrid and still has Penix, London, and Bijan as the featured pieces. Losing Brian Robinson Jr. is a depth hit, not a scheme rewrite, and the early-down answers stay the same names.

International Slot Without the No. 2 Back

Bengals versus Falcons at 9:30 a.m. ET is the early international window. Atlanta's home designation in Madrid does not change the injury math. Brian Robinson Jr. will not dress. The backs who will are the ones who have been taking the featured reps all season.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Bijan Robinson rush and receptions with Brian Robinson Jr. already ruled out. Lean Tyler Allgeier rush as the clear change-of-pace. On the Cincinnati side, lean Ja'Marr Chase targets only as a fan line grounded in his reported featured usage.

Robinson out, Branch out, Madrid waiting. That is Atlanta's Week 9 backfield card.