The Falcons have spent training camp taking some punches on the injury front, but there’s finally a reason to exhale a little: Jawaan Taylor is on the verge of getting back on the field.
Atlanta already lost standout rookie Jalon Walker to a torn ACL, and Michael Penix Jr. is also unlikely to be ready for the new season after suffering the same injury. So any positive health update matters right now, especially with the preseason coming up.
That’s why the latest word on Taylor is such a welcome development. According to Tori McElhaney of the Falcons on X, formerly Twitter, “Kevin Stefanski said RT Jawaan Taylor will be activated off PUP ‘very soon' and the expectation is he will be practicing today,”
McElhaney also reported, “Stefanski said Taylor won't practice every day this week but they are wanting to get him more involved. Very regimented ramp up period as he returns to the field,”
Taylor signed a one-year deal with Atlanta this offseason after leaving the Kansas City Chiefs, and he is expected to be an important piece on the offensive line. He had been on the Physically Unable to Perform list because of an elbow injury, but all signs point to a return being close.
The timing is important for a Falcons team that enters the season without much buzz around it. Atlanta missed the playoffs again in 2025 despite playing in the lowly NFC South, and while the roster has plenty of talent at the skill positions, uncertainty at quarterback and some questions on defense have kept the team out of most contender conversations.
The Falcons open the season on September 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In Other News...
Kirk Cousins Adds Another Awkward Twist To His Post-Falcons Story
Kirk Cousins is barely out of Atlanta and already finding a new subplot in Las Vegas. At a Raiders training camp practice, the veteran quarterback got into a minor dustup with edge rusher Maxx Crosby, a moment that drew in coaches and teammates before it was calmed down. It was the kind of brief camp flare-up that usually fades quickly, but it added another odd note to Cousins transition after his release from the Falcons.
The bigger picture for Cousins is supposed to be a quieter one, with the Raiders expecting him to help mentor rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza this season. Instead, the exchange with Crosby gave his new stop an awkward early wrinkle, and it prompted head coach Klint Kubiak to keep both players out of the next practice as discipline. For Atlanta fans still tracking Cousins post-Falcons path, it was another reminder that his next chapter is already arriving with some unexpected noise. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Stefanski Is Already Changing The Falcons Culture
The Falcons are getting a different kind of training camp under Kevin Stefanski, and the early message has been about pace, contact and preparation. The new head coach has brought in more physically demanding practices, including live tackling periods, which is a noticeable shift from what players saw under Raheem Morris and Arthur Smith.
Stefanski is also expected to play starters in select preseason games, but with a controlled approach to their reps, another sign he wants the roster sharper when the games count. It is the kind of camp adjustment that can alter the tone of a building quickly, and it will be worth watching how the team responds as the preseason unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons May Have A James Pearce Jr. Problem To Open The Season
The early-season picture around Atlanta got a little murkier after Adam Schefter said on his podcast that several NFL players, including Falcons outside linebacker James Pearce Jr., are among the cases under review for possible discipline before the season begins. Schefter grouped Pearce Jr. with players such as Puka Nacua, Josh Jacobs, Jonathon Cooper, Alaric Jackson and Tyreek Hill, noting that more clarity is expected by the time the regular season arrives.
For the Falcons, the concern is less about whether the situation will linger and more about how long it might last once the league makes its call. Atlanta is reportedly bracing for a significant absence for Pearce Jr., and the uncertainty around the final ruling leaves the team planning for life without a player it expected to count on right away. [Read more 🡒]