MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is, in some ways, the bridge between teammate Carlos Washington Jr. and reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey.
Robinson plans to make his role in Atlanta’s offense similar to that of McCaffrey with the San Francisco 49ers, who led the league in yards from scrimmage last season. But sitting in Robinson’s own meeting room is Washington, a player who Falcons head coach Raheem Morris called a “clone” of the former No. 8 pick.
Both Robinson and Washington entered the NFL in 2023. Robinson was the highest drafted running back of the last five years, while Washington went undrafted. Robinson finished fifth in the NFL Rookie of the Year voting, while Washington spent the year on the practice squad.
Morris knows Robinson and Tyler Allgeier are Atlanta’s two best running backs, but he believes the depth of the team – from Washington to sixth-round rookie Jase McClellan to return specialist Avery Williams – brings another element.
But Morris argued that Washington’s element is similar to that of the versatile, explosive Robinson.
“Carlos gives us a little bit of momentum,” Morris said before training with the Miami Dolphins. “Carlos gives us something special in the backfield, he gives us Bijan-like qualities. We used to call them clones with Julio (Jones).
“All these kinds of clones that are kind of your starters and kind of mimic those things – you never have that drastic drop in performance when a guy misses a rep or two.”
Morris based his comment on the clone on role clarity, a term that is often used at team headquarters in Flowery Branch to highlight the specific responsibilities the staff assigns to each player brought into the building.
During training camp, the Falcons work out roles for each player and try to figure out what they do best. In the event that a backup player has to play the entire game, Atlanta wants to figure out how to best utilize each player’s skills. Morris said the process allows the team to know exactly what it’s looking for and to define those roles more clearly.
This summer, Washington made life easy for Atlanta’s staff. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound player ran with determination, his eyes and feet working in sync to find and exploit open lanes. He was efficient and productive in training camp.
When Robinson missed most of Monday’s pad-free practice in Flowery Branch for what were believed to be load management-related reasons, Washington was promoted to the Falcons’ starting lineup.
It’s a stark contrast to his situation last year when he came into Atlanta’s preseason: a wide-eyed, undrafted rookie from Southeastern Louisiana University, courtesy of the University of New Hampshire, suddenly on the big stage.
And that brings things full circle: On Friday night at 7 p.m., Washington will face the Dolphins in the Falcons’ first preseason game at Hard Rock Stadium, the same place where he made his debut last year – but with a dash of perspective, according to running back coach Michael Pitre.
“Take a deep breath and have fun,” Pitre said of his message to Washington. “It’s just football. And I think he had to realize that when he went from New Hampshire to SELA and then to the Dolphins. I think he just thought, ‘Oh man, the moment.’ It doesn’t matter – it’s just football.”
“I think he’s starting to realize he deserves to be here. He’s worked his ass off to be here. Now he can just relax and play football.”
Washington struggled last preseason, managing just 69 yards on 30 carries, averaging 2.3 yards per attempt. He scored one touchdown but also lost a fumble. His performance was better in the air than on the ground, as he recorded 10 pass catches for 70 yards in three games.
Washington obviously wants to improve personally this time and said there is still a lot to show.
“I feel like I left some meat on the bone last preseason,” Washington said. “So I’m going into this with an open mind, trusting myself and my ability. I’m going to give it my all and not question myself this time.”
After the 2023 preseason, the Falcons released Washington, who remained unsigned for nearly a month before being signed to Atlanta’s practice squad. He did not play in the regular season and signed a reserve/future contract after the season concluded to remain with the organization through the summer.
At the time, the Falcons had neither a head coach nor an offensive coordinator, as they had fired Arthur Smith two days earlier. They eventually hired Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson for those respective roles, while retaining Pitre as their running back boss.
The grueling process, from fighting for a spot on the roster to failing, from being unemployed to being placed on the practice squad without playing, from signing another contract despite not knowing if he would fit in with the new team, has created a year full of lessons for Washington.
The most important thing, he said, is to approach each situation individually. Patience and communication are key, as is trust. Without trust, nothing can be achieved.
Washington, who is at training camp in Flowery Branch with Bijan Robinson, Allgeier and Williams, now has a year of experience under his belt and is competing with a conviction he lacked last fall.
“I think he’s getting more and more confident and comfortable,” Pitre said. “He’s extremely smart and hard working. I think everyone is pretty happy with the steps we’ve taken so far to get him to where he is now.”
Washington, 25, is competing with McClellan for the final running back spot on Atlanta’s 53-man roster. Robinson and Allgeier are the headliners, while Williams will handle kick and punt return duties.
Morris said McClellan’s running style is similar to Allgeier and that the Falcons are happy to have two backups who can fill the same roles as their regulars in case of an absence.
But only one of Washington and McClellan is likely to make the roster, leaving the other dependent on the waiver list. The Falcons would certainly like to keep the other on the practice squad, but there’s no guarantee the underdog won’t be claimed.
Pitre said he doesn’t think there’s a favorite right now. While Washington started in place of Robinson on the first team on Monday and had a strong performance in joint practice with the second team in Miami on Tuesday, McClellan did most of the work on Wednesday.
Ultimately, it’s too early for the Falcons to make a final judgment. The week in Miami is important for Washington, Pitre said, because it will give them the opportunity to gain experience against a different opponent.
The biggest test comes Friday night when Atlanta plays what Pitre described as “real football” against the Dolphins, the first of three exhibition games before the Falcons trim their roster from 90 to 53 players on Aug. 27.
For Washington, walking into Hard Rock Stadium may bring a sense of déjà vu – but he has the chance to rewrite some important pages of last year’s history, and he plans to make every moment count.
“That’s on the coaches, on the staff,” Washington said of winning the final running back spot. “I just have to continue to trust in myself, in my ability and know that if I continue to do my best, I’m going to try to make it undeniable.”
