A product of the East Midlands club's youth academy, the 24-year-old has made one senior appearance for the Rams.
Atkins had a spell on loan at Conference Premier side Alfreton Town earlier this season, where he featured 22 times.
He joins the West Sussex club as cover for Johnny Maddison, who is suffering from suspected appendicitis.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Sunderland | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 29 |
| 2 | Leeds UnitedLeeds | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 14 | 26 |
| 3 | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 25 |
| 4 | Burnley | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 23 |
| 5 | Watford | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 22 |
| 6 | West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 21 |
| 7 | Millwall | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 19 |
| 8 | Blackburn RoversBlackburn | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 19 |
| 9 | Bristol City | 13 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 19 |
| 10 | Norwich CityNorwich | 13 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 23 | 18 | 5 | 18 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 15 | -1 | 18 |
| 12 | Swansea CitySwansea | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 16 |
| 13 | Coventry CityCoventry | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 15 |
| 14 | Derby CountyDerby | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 17 | -1 | 15 |
| 15 | Hull City | 13 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 17 | -2 | 15 |
| 16 | Stoke CityStoke | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 18 | -3 | 15 |
| 17 | Cardiff CityCardiff | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 15 |
| 18 | Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 24 | -9 | 15 |
| 19 | Oxford UnitedOxford Utd | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 17 | -1 | 14 |
| 20 | Preston North EndPreston | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 20 | -6 | 14 |
| 21 | Luton TownLuton | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 21 | -6 | 12 |
| 22 | Plymouth ArgylePlymouth | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 25 | -12 | 12 |
| 23 | Queens Park RangersQPR | 13 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 19 | -8 | 10 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 13 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 26 | -13 | 9 |
| > Championship Full Table | |||||||||
