After a rough preseason opener against the Denver Broncos, the Atlanta Falcons head into a more revealing stretch of August: two joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts. The starters won’t play in Saturday’s preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium, so these sessions should offer a clearer picture of who is moving up - and who is slipping down - the depth chart.
With competition still front and center, several Falcons have a real chance to turn practice reps into roster momentum. Based on what happened in the opener, these five players are positioned to make a move.
Josh Woods is one of the clearest names to watch at linebacker. His case got a boost when the Falcons released Troy Andersen, a decision that went beyond Andersen’s injury history.
Woods backed that up in the preseason opener, tying Sydney Brown for the team lead with six tackles, including four solo stops, and adding a tackle for loss. With Divine Deablo out, Atlanta has been mixing Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr. into first-team work, with Christian Harris also getting looks, but Woods started earning first-team reps during Monday’s session.
His stock is moving.
Vinny Anthony II also helped himself in the opener, even though the box score only shows one catch for five yards. His real damage came on special teams, where he returned three kicks for 90 yards.
That kind of burst matters, and Anthony has already been one of the most dependable targets in camp. He’s still in a tight roster battle, but another strong showing in Indianapolis could earn him more work with the second-team group and strengthen his case.
Kam Dewberry’s path got a little cleaner after the Falcons released Layden Robinson. The undrafted rookie is no longer buried as a steady third-string option, and his only real competition for the backup right guard job is newly signed Jaeden Roberts. Since Dewberry has been in Atlanta longer, he looks like the player with the edge right now.
At safety, Jammie Robinson has started to push his way into the conversation. Xavier Watts, Jessie Bates, and DeMarcco Hellams have been the main names there, but Robinson made a play in the opener by recovering the fumble forced by JD Bertrand that set up Atlanta’s only touchdown on Friday night.
He also finished with four tackles, three of them solo. With Sydney Brown being used more as a nickel corner and Watts and Bates both injured but progressing, Robinson could get a shot at first-team snaps next to Hellams until the starting duo is ready to return.
Then there’s Jack Strand, who may already be forcing the issue at quarterback. It’s still not clear whether he’s QB3 or QB4, but his NFL debut made a strong argument for a higher spot.
The undrafted rookie completed 50% of his passes and showed real upside, while also looking noticeably better than Cooper Rush, who threw two interceptions. For a 22-year-old with no D1 or NFL experience before Friday night’s loss, Strand handled the moment well.
Kevin Stefanski hasn’t named a starter for Saturday night, but another solid week should keep pushing Strand in the right direction.
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Falcons QB Picture Just Got More Complicated After Jack Strands Debut
The Falcons added former Pro Bowl edge rusher Za'Darius Smith, but the more immediate conversation out of the preseason game against the Broncos centered on the quarterback room. Atlanta did not get much from its passers overall, and undrafted rookie Jack Strand emerged as the most encouraging of the group in his first NFL action. The debut was modest, but it still gave the Falcons a small glimpse of a young quarterback trying to carve out a place in a competition that already has a lot of moving parts.
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For Falcons fans, the bigger takeaway is what comes next. Atlanta is expected to have a real opening for Tagovailoa in 2026, and the opportunity is there for him to step into a prominent role as the team manages Michael Penix Jr.s recovery from a knee injury. It is the kind of situation that can reshape a quarterbacks career fast, and it gives the Falcons another layer of intrigue heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]