Robinson Is Out. Bijan Is on His Own.

Brian Robinson Jr. is ruled out for Sunday in San Francisco, and that leaves Bijan Robinson as the only functional piece of an offense that was already running out of options. Robinson Jr. had rushed for 217 yards and four touchdowns across seven games — secondary depth the Falcons could lean on when the passing game offered nothing. Now that depth is gone for a week when they need it most.

The timing is about as bad as it gets. The 49ers' defense is getting healthier, with Nick Bosa potentially returning to the field. Bijan Robinson has been the one player keeping this offense credible — 641 rushing yards and four touchdowns through six games, plus a receiving role that has helped move chains when the quarterbacks couldn't. Asking him to carry the full load against San Francisco, with Andy Dalton under center and a receiving corps that has produced almost nothing behind Kyle Pitts Sr., is a significant ask.

Khalil Herbert is active and figures to absorb some of the backfield work. But the Falcons built their ground game around a two-back rotation, and that structure is now down to one reliable option for the week. The two wins this season came when the run game had clean looks and the defense held. Neither condition looks easy to replicate Sunday.