Falcons Stash Brian Robinson Jr. on IR, Sign Khalil Herbert to Stop the Bleeding

The Atlanta Falcons are officially waving the white flag on Brian Robinson Jr. and his uncooperative hamstring. The team is stashing their starting running back on injured reserve and signing Khalil Herbert to the active roster just to make sure they have enough warm bodies in the backfield.

Robinson had already missed two straight games, which helps explain why the Atlanta offense recently looked like it was operating underwater. If you had the misfortune of watching their 16-0 shutout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 1, you already know how desperate this situation has become.

"ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported the IR placement and Herbert signing directly from the team."

Now, anyone holding a Robinson anytime touchdown ticket or relying on him for fantasy production is officially out of luck for at least the next month.

To fill the void, the Falcons are turning to Herbert. If you remember his Chicago Bears days, Herbert is the guy who once averaged a ridiculous 6.0 yards per carry on 108 touches before his own body started betraying him.

Relying on Herbert to fix an injury problem is a bit like buying a high-mileage sports car to replace your broken-down daily driver. The guy has a history of hip issues and high ankle sprains that reads like a medical journal.

But right now, the Falcons do not have the luxury of being picky. They just need someone who can legally stand behind the quarterback and occasionally fall forward for three yards.

Atlanta hosts the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday afternoon. With Robinson on the shelf, expect Herbert to immediately split snaps and try to inject some actual life into an offense that desperately needs a pulse.