Jahan Dotson’s chance in Atlanta looks a lot different from the kind of camp flier that usually fades once the real games start.
The former first-round pick has reportedly already shown chemistry with Michael Penix Jr., and one of the highlights from Saturday’s open practice came on the offensive side with Dotson involved. That matters because the Falcons also have something even more valuable waiting for him: a real job available opposite Drake London.
Dotson has always had the tools. He came into the league with crisp route-running, real speed and the ability to create separation without needing the ball manufactured for him. What he has not had is a steady stream of targets or a permanent offensive home.
His 2024 season in Philadelphia was quiet - 18 catches, 262 yards and one touchdown. Those numbers are easy to overlook, but they also help explain why Atlanta could bring in a 26-year-old former first-round receiver without treating him like a premium acquisition.
The path to a bigger role is pretty clear. Defenses have to deal with London, Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts first, which should leave Dotson facing softer coverage and more workable cornerback matchups. Atlanta’s heavier personnel looks should also create space for him to operate.
That does not mean the competition is empty. Olamide Zaccheaus knows how to stick around in the league, and rookie Zachariah Branch brings electric speed. Dotson has not earned anything just because he made one strong catch in shorts.
Still, he does not need to become a 1,300-yard receiver to matter. If Atlanta gives him around 70 targets and lets him work downfield and in the intermediate middle of the field, his efficiency could finally line up with the draft expectations that once followed him into the league.
The Falcons did not bring Dotson in to carry the offense. They brought him in to help finish it. For a former first-round pick, that may be the exact setup he needed.
In Other News...
Tua Tagovailoa Just Changed The Falcons Quarterback Mood
The quarterback picture in Atlanta has shifted again, and this time it is because Tua Tagovailoa is back doing real work in camp. After recovering from a back injury, he returned to full 11-on-11 reps with the first-team offense during the Falcons first padded practice, a notable step after the early stages of training camp had left the depth chart looking a little more uncertain.
Michael Penix Jr. remains sidelined, which makes Tagovailoa the most likely answer for Week 1 if the Falcons open the season today. For a team that has spent much of camp trying to sort out its offensive rhythm, getting Tagovailoa back into the full-speed mix changes the feel around the position and gives Atlanta a clearer sense of where things stand, even if the final decision is still in front of them. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Padded Practice Exposed Two Early Roster Questions
The Falcons put pads on for the second phase of training camp, and the added contact sharpened a few early roster questions that had already been building. Bijan Robinson is still working without a new contract in hand, so he has been practicing in shorts and tennis shoes, while Brian Robinson Jr. has been active. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich also returned after time away following a family loss, giving Atlanta a little more normalcy as the intensity picked up and the quarterbacks got into early drills.
The more revealing stretch came on the offensive line, where injuries and absences have left the team piecing together answers at right tackle. Michael Jerrell and Brandon Walton have been taking meaningful snaps there, a reminder that camp is already testing depth in a spot the Falcons cannot afford to leave unsettled. Elsewhere, Desmond Ridder put together a strong day in the limited work he got, and third-round pick Zachariah Branch continued to draw attention in pads as the competition around the secondary stays tight. [Read more 🡒]
Zachariah Branch Is Giving Falcons Fans A New Reason For Excitement
Rookie receiver Zachariah Branch has wasted little time making an impression in his first week at Falcons training camp, working with the first-team offense and turning heads with a handful of notable plays. Atlanta took him 79th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, and his early run with the starters has added some buzz to a receiving group looking for more impact options.
Branchs adjustment has been helped by his time at the University of Georgia, where he already got a taste of what it means to play in this region and handle the expectations that come with it. Teammates, including Kyle Pitts, have been quick to notice, and the early read on Branch is that he brings a versatile, physical presence that could earn him a real role if this camp momentum keeps building. [Read more 🡒]