WESTFIELD, Ind. - Tyler Goodson keeps making the Falcons’ running back picture harder to read in all the right ways.
The offseason pickup looked like the cleanest answer on Wednesday in the first of two joint practices with the Colts. Goodson, who grew up about 20 minutes from Atlanta’s practice facility and spent his first three NFL seasons in Indianapolis, worked as the third back in rotation during team periods and flashed the kind of burst that has separated him all camp. He led Atlanta with seven carries for 28 yards in Friday’s preseason opener, and he backed that up again Wednesday while also handling kick return duties.
That combination has given him a real edge over Nathan Carter for what figures to be the last running back spot on the 53-man roster. Goodson even has a little momentum away from the field now, with his RARE clothing brand starting sales this month.
“Guys in the locker room are wearing it too, which is cool,” he said. “Sales have been going great.”
Goodson wasn’t the only Falcon who stood out. Drake London hauled in the day’s most eye-catching play, a long touchdown grab where he rose over a defender and then finished the final 30 yards to the end zone.
Zachariah Branch also delivered a physical moment, lowering his shoulder and knocking down a Colts defender. Atlanta’s run defense, after a rough preseason showing against Denver, also looked much sharper.
There was still plenty of work left elsewhere, starting with the quarterback situation.
Tua Tagovailoa and the first unit never really got rolling in 11-on-11 work. He finished 8-of-13 passing, and the only throw that went beyond 9 yards was the jump-ball touchdown to London.
Tagovailoa was 3-for-3 in seven-on-seven periods, but the offense still looked like a unit searching for rhythm. He later threw a pick six in the final team segment and said the placement was on him.
“There are some things we can clean up, but I thought it went pretty well,” Tagovailoa said. “Regardless of how close or how far we think we are, the work still needs to be put in at the end of the day.”
He said the offense is getting more comfortable and that the next step is sharper communication with the receivers.
“We’re continuing to grow, figuring out how guys run their routes,” he said. “(I want to get) them to communicate with me and not go to their coach.
Like, ‘Hey, let’s talk to each other.’ That’s how we’re going to be able to go out there and feel comfortable.”
Behind him, the depth chart may be getting a little clearer too. Quarterback Jack Strand did not take part in team work, while veteran Cooper Rush handled all of the second-team reps with Michael Penix Jr. still limited to seven-on-seven.
That could be a telling development for the rookie UDFA if Strand doesn’t get back into the mix Thursday. Rush didn’t exactly light it up, but he may have nudged ahead for the No. 3 job.
Penix’s day was brief but efficient in his limited action, going 6-for-9 in seven-on-seven work.
Up front, the tackle spots offered a few more clues. Jake Matthews played only one series at left tackle before Michael Jerrell took over there, and Jerrell and Wanya Morris appear to be fighting for the swing tackle role.
On the right side, things looked steadier with veteran Jawaan Taylor back in action and taking all of the first-team snaps. Taylor said his camp absence stemmed from minor knee surgery in March, and he added that the triceps injury that cost him five games last season is fully healed.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “(The Colts) have a great defense, a lot of great players.
We just had fun out here competing. Just getting better every day.
It’s going really well.”
Atlanta’s defense also responded after Friday’s preseason letdown. Brandon Dorlus pointed to the film session as a turning point, and the unit showed it with several run stuffs against Jonathan Taylor and the Colts’ starting offense.
“Friday night wasn’t up to our standards at all,” defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus said. “We watched the film, we locked in, we came out here and played with a different type of energy.”
London, though, may have been the best Falcon on the field. Bijan Robinson couldn’t be fully featured in a practice where players weren’t allowed to be tackled to the ground, but London still found ways to dominate the spotlight with a one-handed sideline catch and the leaping touchdown grab.
“I think it went really, really well,” London said. “Obviously, there is a lot of stuff to clean up, but we’re finding our way right now, and we’re paving it, and I really like where we’re at.”
The teams will be back at it Thursday before Saturday’s preseason game.
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