The Falcons’ Week 2 offense has a simple starting point: get Drake London rolling.
Atlanta handed London a four-year, $141 million contract extension this summer, but his first game after landing among the NFL’s highest-paid receivers didn’t deliver much. He finished the Week 1 loss with only two catches for 29 yards.
That outing came in a game plan that leaned heavily on Bijan Robinson, and the result was a quiet night for just about everyone else. One rough showing doesn’t erase what the Falcons think London can be, but the offense is clearly better when he’s a bigger part of it.
Sunday’s home opener against the Carolina Panthers offers that chance. Kevin Stefanski has openly admitted that he wants to spread the football around more, and that should put London in position for a more active role no matter who starts, especially after Carolina’s defense was shredded last week.
The Panthers gave up 59 points to the Chicago Bears in the opener, turning this matchup with Ejiro Evero’s defense into what could be a get-right spot for Atlanta’s entire offense. Carolina already surrendered a big play to Rome Odunze, and London is a far more dangerous target than Odunze.
Still, this won’t be a clean runway. Cooper Rush appears likely to start for the second straight game, and he looked rough last week. Even with a favorable defensive matchup on paper, Atlanta could run into trouble with Carolina’s secondary.
London is expected to see shadow coverage from Jaycee Horn, one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. If Horn isn’t plastered to him on every snap, Mike Jackson still presents a tough assignment. Together, they give the Panthers one of the stronger cornerback pairings in the league, and they are unlikely to spend much time worrying about human decoy Jahan Dotson.
That means London should be the focal point of the coverage plan, which only raises the importance of getting him involved early. Whether Atlanta uses his size or moves him into the slot, the Falcons need to find ways to get him free.
There is also a reason to think Rush may be in position to take more downfield shots than he did a week ago, and that should help London. The timing won’t match his connection with Michael Penix Jr., but London has shown he can function with a wide range of quarterbacks.
Desmond Ridder. Marcus Mariota.
Taylor Heinicke. Kirk Cousins.
London has played with some rough passers, so Cooper Rush should not be the obstacle. The Falcons just need to scheme him open or get the ball in his hands, even if Horn is on him, and that would help his QB1 settle in.
London still hasn’t quite justified being the third highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, but the expectation is that it’s only a matter of time. Atlanta would love to see that start against the Panthers.
In Other News...
Michael Penix Jr Puts Falcons Quarterback Decision Back In Play
Michael Penix Jr. was back as a full participant in practice this week, a notable step for a Falcons quarterback still working through recovery and one that immediately brings the position conversation back into focus. Atlanta had Penix sharing reps with Cooper Rush, a reminder that the quarterback room is very much in motion as the Falcons keep sorting out how they want to handle the position going forward.
The timing matters in a division where every team is watching the margin for error. Across the NFC South, Todd Bowles has already made it clear Baker Mayfield has to be sharper with the football, while Carolina is making roster moves of its own, waiving cornerback Jimmy Horn to open a spot for linebacker Tyrel Dodson. For Atlanta, though, the bigger picture is simpler: Penixs return to full work is putting the Falcons quarterback decision right back in play. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Newton Just Entered The Falcons Quarterback Conversation
Cam Newton resurfaced in the Falcons quarterback conversation this week by making a public case that he could still help an NFL team, even after not playing since 2021. The former Panthers star, who will be Hall of Fame eligible next year, also took aim at Atlantas recent quarterback decisions while noting that no team has reached out to him, despite the occasional fan push to bring him back.
For the Falcons, it is the kind of noise that follows any team still trying to settle its long-term answer under center. Newton said he understands a return is unlikely, but he made clear he would at least welcome the chance to be asked, drawing a contrast with other retired quarterbacks who have found their way back onto the field. For now, it is more a reminder of Atlantas ongoing search than a true sign of movement, but Newtons name has a way of keeping the discussion alive. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Bigger A.J. Terrell Question Than Expected
A.J. Terrell entered the 2026 season as one of the most trusted pieces of Atlantas defense, but the early returns have made his spot under a brighter light than the Falcons probably expected. In Week 1 against the Steelers, he had a rough afternoon in coverage, with multiple catches allowed and penalties adding to the frustration, and Pro Football Focus had him graded near the bottom among qualified cornerbacks for the game.
Even with those concerns about both health and performance, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has continued to speak in unmistakably strong terms about Terrell, publicly calling him the best boundary corner in the NFL. For Atlanta, that creates a real crossroads: the Falcons still need Terrell to look like a shutdown player, but now they have to balance confidence in his track record against the possibility that the decline is more than just a one-game blip. [Read more 🡒]