Gibbs and Robinson both skipping practice amid contract talks
Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs and Falcons RB Bijan Robinson are both not practicing as long-term contract conversations with their respective teams continue, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Neither absence is officially labeled a holdout yet, but the timing makes the reason clear. Both players are on four-year, $19.17 million rookie contracts and want extensions before they take the field in earnest.
What is driving each situation
Gibbs is in the fourth and final year of his rookie deal. Detroit has extended other first-round picks from the 2022 draft class but has not yet done the same for him. A new contract before camp is the obvious ask.
Robinson's situation has more urgency. He led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards in 2025, made the Pro Bowl and All-Pro First Team, and is publicly signaling he wants to be paid. The Falcons already extended WR Drake London on a four-year, $141 million contract and TE Kyle Pitts on a three-year, $54 million contract this offseason, which only added to the pressure on Atlanta to get Robinson's deal done. Robinson is 24 and on a fifth-year option, so the Falcons have him under contract for now, but he is not happy about going into the season without a long-term commitment.
The two situations are loosely linked. Whoever gets paid first likely sets the market for the other, which could slow things down if teams are watching each other move.
What this means for your fantasy roster
Robinson is a consensus top-three fantasy RB. Gibbs is right behind him. Neither being on the practice field is worth panicking over today, but a prolonged absence heading into the regular season creates real conditioning questions and, in worst-case scenarios, could affect snap share early in the year.
If you own either player, watch for a resolution before your draft. If Robinson resets the RB market at something in the range Schefter is reporting, Gibbs will likely follow. Both deals getting done quickly is the best outcome for fantasy managers. If either situation drags past the start of the preseason, start factoring in the uncertainty when ranking them.
