The Atlanta Falcons are treating Friday like more than just another preseason tune-up.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that the starters will play against the Miami Dolphins, setting up what amounts to a full dress rehearsal before the regular season. Atlanta’s top group will get live reps, and the coaching staff will get one more hard look at a roster still taking shape.
The quarterback situation remains one of the biggest questions heading into the game. Tua Tagovailoa is expected to start for the Falcons while the team decides whether Michael Penix Jr. will be ready to go. Penix has been cleared to return to full 11-on-11 work, which puts him back in the mix with Tagovailoa for the starting job.
Stefanski wasn’t ready Monday morning to say whether Penix will see the field against Miami, but the return to full practice gives Atlanta another chance to evaluate him this week. Tagovailoa, on the other hand, has an opportunity to strengthen his case with another preseason outing.
The competition doesn’t stop at quarterback. Atlanta is still sorting through its running back group behind Bijan Robinson, and the picture got a little clearer after Trey Sermon was placed on injured reserve. That opens the door for younger backs like Nathan Carter and Cash Jones, both of whom now have a better shot at making the roster.
Tyler Goodson has also entered the conversation after standing out against the Colts, adding another name to a crowded backfield battle.
There are still jobs up for grabs on defense and special teams as well, with young players trying to prove they belong. The Falcons have until Sunday afternoon to set their initial 53-man roster, and this final preseason week could carry major weight in those decisions.
Stefanski made it clear the Falcons are approaching it like a real game week.
"We'll treat this week like a regular-season schedule. We'll be into our regular-season work. Today (Monday) will be a Wednesday."
That approach should give Atlanta a true final test before the games start counting. The starters get a chance to sharpen their timing, the bubble players get one more shot to make an impression, and the coaching staff gets another full evaluation before the roster gets locked in.
For some players, every snap on Friday could matter.
In Other News...
Falcons Sideline Moment Put James Pearce Jr. Back In Spotlight
James Pearce Jr. has spent most of this summer under an unwanted spotlight, and the Falcons pass rusher found himself back in it during a recent preseason game. Even while serving an eight-game suspension beginning Aug. 30 for violating the NFLs Personal Conduct Policy after a February domestic dispute and related felony charges, he remains allowed to take part in preseason practices and games, keeping him around the team while his regular-season future waits in the background.
During the broadcast, Pearce was seen heading into a sideline medical tent with an empty jug and later emerging with it partially filled, a brief and awkward moment that quickly drew attention online. For Atlanta, it was another reminder that one of its most talked-about young defenders is still part of the conversation for reasons that have little to do with football, even as the team tries to move toward the season with the suspension looming. [Read more 🡒]
Jack Strand Is Suddenly Making The Falcons Bet Look Very Real
Jack Strand is giving the Falcons an early return on a decision that looked risky when they passed on drafting a quarterback and instead brought in the undrafted rookie from Minnesota State-Morehead. Working with Kevin Stefanski, Strand has turned a quiet summer into a legitimate conversation, and his preseason progress has started to make Atlantas approach look far more intentional than improvisational.
His most eye-catching moment came against the Colts, when he completed 12 of 17 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. It is still early, but Strand has shown enough command and production to make the Falcons feel like they may have found more than just a camp arm, and the next step will be seeing whether that progress keeps holding up once the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Bubble Players Just Made Final Roster Cuts A Lot Harder
The Falcons 34-6 win over the Colts in their second preseason game did more than pad the scoreboard. It gave several players on the roster bubble a timely chance to stand out, and they took advantage of it with performances that should at least make the front office pause before the final cuts arrive.
Vinny Anthony II, Malcolm DeWalt IV, JD Bertrand, Keshawn Banks and Michael Jerrell all found ways to help their case, whether through steady play or noticeable impact in a game that tilted heavily Atlantas way. For a team still sorting out the back end of the roster and practice squad, those kinds of reps can carry real weight, especially when the evaluation board is getting thinner by the day. [Read more 🡒]