The Falcons came into the offseason preaching competition, and now that training camp has been rolling for two weeks, the roster battles are starting to sort themselves out. A few jobs already look spoken for. Others are still very much up for grabs.
At quarterback, the so-called battle never really got off the ground. Michael Penix Jr. was supposed to be part of the story, but he still hasn’t been cleared for 11-on-11 work and remains a few weeks from full contact.
Tua Tagovailoa, meanwhile, is healthy and flashing in 11s, which has pushed this one firmly in his direction. What once looked like a legitimate fight has turned into Tagovailoa taking command of the job.
Right tackle has landed in a similar place. The Falcons have been working Ethan Onianwa, Michael Jerrell, and Brandon Walton with the first-team offensive line, but that was always tied to injury. Now that Jawaan Taylor has been activated off the active/PUP list and is back in football activities, the starting spot belongs to him.
Edge rusher also looks settled, though not because of a healthy surplus. The loss of Jalon Walker to a season-ending ACL tear and the expectation that James Pearce Jr. will miss a good chunk of 2026 because of suspension have left the room thin.
Cameron Thomas, Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam, Bralen Trice, and newly signed Cameron Sample are all in line for rotational roles, and unless Harold Perkins Jr. or Brandon Dorlus get more looks off the edge, this doesn’t really function like a true competition. Barring a trade or another free-agent move, that rotation appears set.
The battles on the defensive second level are still alive. Inside linebacker had seemed headed toward Christian Harris locking down the job next to Divine Deablo, but that hasn’t held up once camp reps started flying.
Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr. have both worked in with the first team, and Jeff Ulbrich and the defensive staff clearly see something in both rookies. Harris is still in the mix, but the upside of the younger options has kept this from being decided early.
Nickel cornerback might be the messiest of the bunch. The Falcons have tried Avieon Terrell, Sydney Brown, Darnay Holmes, and AJ Woods with the first-team defense, and nobody has separated.
Billy Bowman Jr. is still expected back from his torn Achilles, which only adds another layer to the picture. Terrell and Brown have shown enough to look like the early names to watch, but Brown’s versatility keeps him squarely in the conversation.
Wide receiver is another spot that remains unresolved, even if the top end is clear. Drake London and Jahan Dotson are set on the outside and will be on the field in two-receiver looks.
The open question is who takes the slot in three-wide packages. Olamide Zaccheus has been getting more first-team reps, but rookie Zachariah Branch has been stacking highlight plays and turning heads almost daily.
If that keeps up, the idea of starting Zaccheus gets a lot harder to sell.
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Falcons Rookie Hype Is Facing An Early Camp Reality Check
The first two weeks of Falcons training camp have offered a useful reminder that early buzz is only part of the story. Rookie receiver Zachariah Branch has flashed enough to keep attention on him, but his reps have not matched the excitement, and Atlanta has leaned more on veteran Olamide Zaccheus as it works through the slot picture. For a team trying to sort out its passing-game mix, that kind of pecking order can say plenty before the preseason even starts.
Zaccheus has been making the most of his opportunity in practice, while Branch is still fighting for a clearer lane into the offense. The wrinkle for both is schematic as much as personnel-driven, since the Falcons are expected to lean on looks that do not feature many three-receiver sets. That leaves Branch facing an early camp reality that is less about hype and more about earning the snaps that will decide how quickly he fits into the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Preseason Debut Raised Two Early Concerns Fans Cant Ignore
The Falcons opened the preseason with a 27-7 loss to the Broncos, and the result came with a pair of familiar August concerns attached to it. Atlanta did get a first look at Tua Tagovailoa in game action, and the offense had a few moments of rhythm, with veteran receiver Chris Blair finishing as the teams leading receiver with 37 yards.
What stood out more, though, was how often Denver kept the Falcons from looking comfortable at the line of scrimmage. Atlantas pass rush had a hard time making life difficult for Jarrett Stidham, leaving the defense searching for answers after a night that offered more questions than encouraging signs. [Read more 🡒]
3 Falcons Enter Camp With Their Roster Spot On The Line
Training camp and the preseason tend to sharpen every little roster decision, and for the Falcons, that scrutiny has already landed on three players whose paths to the final roster are anything but secure. Jack Strand is in the mix at quarterback, while JD Bertrand and Bralen Trice are trying to show enough in live action to convince the coaching staff they belong when the roster starts coming into focus.
Preseason games are where those questions get answered, or at least clarified, and Atlanta will be watching all three closely as it sorts out who can help now and who might be the odd man out. Bertrand needs cleaner defensive play to keep himself from falling behind, Trice has to continue proving his value, and Strand is fighting for space at a position where every snap matters. [Read more 🡒]