The Falcons’ fourth practice of training camp came with a little bit of everything: a better day from Michael Penix Jr., another step forward for Tua Tagovailoa, and a reminder that nothing is being handed out in this camp.
Saturday morning was shorter than usual, but it still carried some real movement. Kevin Stefanski said the next time the Falcons practice, they’ll be in full pads. And before that happens, there are already a few battles worth tracking closely.
One of the biggest was at quarterback, where Cooper Rush made his presence felt fast.
Undrafted rookie Jack Strand had been getting the bulk of the 11-on-11 work with Penix and Tua both dealing with injuries, and after a strong Friday, it looked like he might be pulling away in the QB3 race. Rush had other ideas.
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reported that the 32-year-old worked with the first-team offense after signing on Wednesday and turned in a solid showing, completing six of 10 passes. His completions went to Brian Robinson Jr. twice, Kyle Pitts, Jahan Dotson, and Chris Blair, among others.
There was also a rougher outing for Avieon Terrell. The Clemson cornerback, selected by the Falcons with the 48th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, entered camp with plenty of buzz as A.J.
Terrell’s younger brother and a possible long-term starter. But his offseason was already slowed by an injury during OTAs, and Saturday didn’t help his push.
The Athletic’s Josh Kendall reported that Terrell worked mostly with the second- and third-team defense and was flagged at least twice, by Kendall’s count.
That kind of uncertainty is showing up all over the roster.
Stefanski made that clear before practice, reinforcing a message he’s pushed all offseason: jobs have to be earned. That’s the tone around camp, from quarterback on down.
The biggest competitions are at nickel corner and at inside linebacker next to Divine Deablo. Sydney Brown has been getting a lot of work in the nickel, while Darnay Holmes and AJ Woods also took first-team reps there.
At linebacker, several players are still in the mix for the LB2 job.
That competition opened the door for two rookies to keep making noise. Harold Perkins, the sixth-round linebacker, got his first reps with the starting defense this summer next to Deablo, though Christian Harris also saw work there.
Harris still looks like the favorite to start Week 1 at LB2, but Perkins is clearly pushing. Kendal Daniels, the other half of that young linebacker duo, returned after a scheduled rest day and also rotated in with the starting defense.
In Other News...
Falcons Are Sending A Clear Message With Michael Penix Jr
Patrick Mahomes and Daniel Jones are already back in the full-contact mix at their respective training camps, which only sharpens the spotlight on Michael Penix Jr. as Atlanta settles into its own summer routine. The Falcons are taking a more patient path with their young quarterback after his prior injury, keeping the focus on recovery and making sure he is not rushed while the rest of the league moves deeper into camp.
Atlanta has also added Tua Tagovailoa to bolster the quarterback room and give the roster some insurance while Penix continues to work back. It is a clear sign the Falcons are willing to protect their long view at the position, even if that means waiting a little longer before Penix is fully cleared and the competition around him looks more complete. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Camp Just Made Atlantas QB And Bijan Stakes Harder To Ignore
The Falcons wrapped up their first week of training camp with a few notable developments on both sides of the ball. Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. took part in limited drills as he continues recovering, while the team also locked in offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron with a four-year contract extension, a move that gives Atlanta some stability up front as camp begins to settle into a rhythm.
Bijan Robinson, meanwhile, remained out of drills as his contract situation stayed unresolved, leaving one of the teams most important offensive pieces on the sideline during an early stretch that usually helps set the tone for the fall. There was a lighter note in the mix, too, as brothers A.J. and Avieon Terrell practiced together for the first time as teammates, but the bigger questions around Penix and Robinson are the ones that will keep hovering as camp moves on. [Read more 🡒]