Running backs Robinson, Gibbs hold out from training camp while seeking new contracts
Elite running backs Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs did not participate in their teams' first training camp practices on Wednesday while seeking contract extensions. Both are Pro Bowl selections and remain under contract through 2027 after their fifth-year options were exercised. Saquon Barkley is currently the NFL's highest-paid running back at $20.6M annually.
Elite running backs Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs did not participate in their respective teams' first training camp practices on Wednesday, per ESPN's reporting, as both pursue long-term contract extensions from the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions.
Both players have had conversations with their teams this offseason regarding potential long-term deals. According to ESPN, both Robinson and Gibbs are expected to reset the running back market with their new agreements. Saquon Barkley currently holds the distinction of the NFL's highest-paid running back with an annual average of $20.6 million.
Robinson, selected No. 8 by the Falcons in the 2023 draft, delivered a breakout second full season in 2025-26. He led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,478 and in scrimmage yards with 2,298, a Falcons franchise record. Robinson was selected to the Pro Bowl for the past two seasons and earned first-team All-Pro honors last season, per ESPN. Over three seasons, he has accumulated 5,648 all-purpose yards and 34 total touchdowns.
Gibbs, selected No. 12 by Detroit in the same 2023 draft class, has been Pro Bowl-selected in each of his first three seasons. He has compiled 5,029 yards from scrimmage and 49 total touchdowns in that span, according to ESPN.
Both the Falcons and Lions exercised the fifth-year options on Robinson's and Gibbs' rookie contracts, placing each player under team control through the 2027 season. Lions coach Dan Campbell addressed Gibbs' contract extension discussions Wednesday, stating per ESPN, "It'll come as it comes. I think that's the best way to say it. This is both sides working through something and we'll take it as it comes, but that's where it is."
The holdouts come as the NFL salary cap continues its growth phase. Neither player has indicated how long they intend to remain absent from camp.
Robinson and Gibbs held out of training camp as they pursue long-term contract extensions, with both expected to reset the running back market if deals are reached, per ESPN.
Robinson and Gibbs remain under contract through 2027, giving their teams leverage and reducing urgency for immediate extensions. Watch whether either player reports before preseason games begin, whether negotiations shift toward deal terms, and whether other top running backs use these holdouts as leverage. The outcome will signal whether elite rushing production commands elite money in a position with deep alternative options.
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