The Falcons spent the offseason looking like they had their linebacker pairing lined up, with Christian Harris penciled in as the second starter next to Divine Deablo. That plan has already been shaken up.
Fourth-round rookie Kendal Daniels turned enough heads over the summer to force Atlanta’s hand, and when the Falcons released their initial Week 1 depth chart, he was the one listed as the second starter. Harris, who had been working behind him all summer, is the odd man out for now.
Daniels didn’t just flash in camp and the preseason. He kept stacking first-team reps until the staff had to treat him like more than a developmental piece. What started as a summer surprise has turned into a real job, and the Falcons are clearly comfortable putting him on the field right away.
The move also reflects how much faith Atlanta has in Daniels after trading down to pick 136 and landing him. The team signed Harris in free agency expecting him to fit beside Deablo, but Daniels, 23, changed the equation with a summer that drew praise from players and coaches alike. Even his trash talk got noticed.
A few months ago, the idea of Daniels starting in Week 1 would have sounded far-fetched. A midseason promotion seemed much more realistic. Instead, he’s getting the nod from the jump, which says plenty about how the Falcons view him.
It also shows a willingness from Jeff Ulbrich to go with the best option rather than lean on veteran status or offseason investment. Daniels, the 6-foot-5, 242-pound converted safety from Oklahoma, brings rare athleticism and versatility, and Atlanta is betting on that upside early.
He now gets his first chance to make it count in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
In Other News...
Falcons Injury Report Puts Several Week 1 Roles In Doubt
Michael Penix Jr. was a full participant in practice this week even as a knee injury has already ruled him out for the Falcons Week 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The encouraging sign for Atlanta is that no one missed practice entirely, but the injury report still gave the coaching staff plenty to sort through as the opener approaches.
Billy Bowman Jr. was limited by an Achilles injury but remains hopeful he can suit up, while Brandon Dorlus, ZaDarius Smith, Zachariah Branch and Kyle Hinton were also on the report in limited fashion for various reasons. For a team trying to get its first-game rotations settled, that leaves a few roles in the secondary and elsewhere hanging in the balance right up to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Tua Concern They Cant Ignore
Tua Tagovailoas first days as the Falcons newly named starter already have a little extra weight to them, and Thursdays practice session added an unexpected layer. Tagovailoa appeared to be in discomfort and briefly went to the ground during the workout, a sight that immediately put the focus back on the back issue that bothered him during training camp. He did not throw again during the media portion of practice, and the team is set to update his status in its next injury report.
For Atlanta, the timing is the part that matters most. Tagovailoa was just handed the starting job, with Cooper Rush and rookie Jack Strand behind him on the depth chart, so any health concern around him lands differently than it would in midseason. The Falcons now have to sort out whether this was a brief practice scare or something more significant, and the answer should come soon enough when the injury report gives a clearer picture. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Opener Just Got A Big Joey Porter Jr. Wrinkle
Joey Porter Jr. remains one of the more interesting variables hanging over the Falcons opener, even if the immediate concern in Pittsburgh is simply getting the cornerback back on the field. Steelers coach Mike McCarthy would not say whether Porter needs a full practice before being cleared to play against Atlanta, and the second-year defender is still working through a back issue while practicing in a limited capacity.
The broader picture is just as unsettled, with Porter still in a ramp-up stage and no real movement on a contract extension. The Steelers have made their stance clear by not negotiating deals once the regular season begins, so Atlantas opening matchup could feature a key defensive piece whose availability is still very much up in the air. [Read more 🡒]