The Falcons left Wednesday’s first joint practice with the Colts with a mixed bag: a couple of eye-catching offensive moments, some continued limitations at quarterback and along the line, and a defense that looked far sturdier against the run than it did in recent game action.
Atlanta’s offense never really got rolling for long stretches, but Drake London delivered the day’s most striking play. He went up and snatched a long touchdown over Colts cornerback Justin Walley, a reminder of how dangerous he can be when the ball is in the air and the coverage is tight. Later, rookie Zachariah Branch added his own flash in the final period, dropping his shoulder into a defensive back and winning the collision despite being listed at just 5’10 and 180 pounds.
Those two snaps stood out because the rest of the day was relatively quiet for the Falcons’ passing game. The offense had trouble manufacturing explosive plays, and much of the work stayed underneath.
Tua Tagovailoa finished 8-of-13 in 11-on-11 work and went a perfect 3-for-3 in 7-on-7. Most of his throws came close to the line of scrimmage, especially swing passes to Bijan Robinson, and only one attempt traveled more than 10 yards.
Michael Penix Jr. remained restricted to 7-on-7 drills, where he completed 6-of-9 passes. His best throw found Juice Wells on what looked like a curl along the right sideline. Penix wasn’t flawless with his placement, missing high to London and sailing another pass beyond Chris Blair, but the numbers still showed a workable session given the limited reps.
The offensive line also gave a few clues worth watching. Jawaan Taylor handled every right tackle snap and said afterward that he felt good.
He also said his knee was “cleaned up” in March and that he considers himself fully healthy now. Taylor was activated last week, though he did not play against the Broncos.
On the other side, Jake Matthews took part in one series of 11-on-11 before Michael Jerrell stepped in, keeping the left tackle rotation very much in focus.
Quarterback work beyond the top names was straightforward. Cooper Rush took all of the second-team snaps, while Jack Strand did not get any team work. With Penix still limited to 7-on-7, the Falcons have yet to get him regular 11-on-11 reps, and with starters being held out of Saturday’s game, Strand should see plenty of action then.
If the offense was uneven, the defense’s work against the run was the clearest bright spot. That mattered after Atlanta gave up 162 rushing yards in Friday’s preseason game and, in its last meeting with the Colts, surrendered a franchise-worst 323 rushing yards. Wednesday’s practice showed a much better answer at the point of attack, and that kind of improvement matters as the Falcons try to build a more consistent defensive identity.
There were still injury-related questions hanging over the session. Jessie Bates III did not take any team work, and Avieon Terrell remained out.
Atlanta didn’t overwhelm Indianapolis, but Day 1 still gave the Falcons a few useful answers and a few more things to track when the teams meet again.
In Other News...
Falcons Suddenly Have A Week 1 QB Question They Didn't Want
Tua Tagovailoas rough afternoon against the Colts in joint practice only sharpened the conversation around Atlantas quarterback situation, and it is one Indianapolis will have watched closely from the other sideline. He completed 8 of 13 passes with little success pushing the ball downfield and was also picked off and returned for a touchdown, a reminder that even in August, the Falcons are still searching for cleaner answers under center.
Michael Penix Jr. remains out while working back from ACL surgery and has not taken part in 11-on-11 work, leaving Atlanta with an awkward Week 1 backdrop it did not want this late in the preseason. Unless Penix is cleared and shows he is the better option, Tagovailoa is expected to open the season as the starter, which makes every practice rep and preseason decision matter a little more for a Falcons team trying to settle one of its most important spots. [Read more 🡒]
DeForest Buckners Comeback Leaves Colts Waiting On One Crucial Test
DeForest Buckners return has become one of the more encouraging developments of Colts camp, with the veteran defensive tackle working his way back from a season-ending neck injury and trending toward availability for Week 1 against the Ravens. Buckner has sounded confident about where he stands physically, and Indianapolis has been careful to bring him along with an eye on the long season ahead.
The Colts are still treating his comeback with caution, easing him into practice while managing his workload and avoiding unnecessary risk. For a defense that leans on Buckners presence in the middle, the final check is less about whether he wants to play and more about how his body responds as the opener draws closer. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Still Have One Quarterback Battle Fans Cant Ignore
The Colts still have one quarterback decision lingering as the preseason winds down, and it is not the one most fans expected to be watching. Daniel Jones is set as the starter, but Indianapolis has yet to settle on the backup job, with Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson continuing to compete for the spot as the team moves through its final evaluations.
Shane Steichen said the choice will come after the remaining preseason game and the practices that follow, which keeps the competition very much alive for now. Both Leonard and Richardson are scheduled to get playing time in the upcoming preseason game, giving the staff one more look before it has to make a call on who backs up Jones this season. [Read more 🡒]