The Atlanta Falcons are treating Friday like more than just another preseason tune-up.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that the starters will play against the Miami Dolphins, setting up what amounts to a full dress rehearsal before the regular season. Atlanta’s top group will get live reps, and the coaching staff will get one more hard look at a roster still taking shape.
The quarterback situation remains one of the biggest questions heading into the game. Tua Tagovailoa is expected to start for the Falcons while the team decides whether Michael Penix Jr. will be ready to go. Penix has been cleared to return to full 11-on-11 work, which puts him back in the mix with Tagovailoa for the starting job.
Stefanski wasn’t ready Monday morning to say whether Penix will see the field against Miami, but the return to full practice gives Atlanta another chance to evaluate him this week. Tagovailoa, on the other hand, has an opportunity to strengthen his case with another preseason outing.
The competition doesn’t stop at quarterback. Atlanta is still sorting through its running back group behind Bijan Robinson, and the picture got a little clearer after Trey Sermon was placed on injured reserve. That opens the door for younger backs like Nathan Carter and Cash Jones, both of whom now have a better shot at making the roster.
Tyler Goodson has also entered the conversation after standing out against the Colts, adding another name to a crowded backfield battle.
There are still jobs up for grabs on defense and special teams as well, with young players trying to prove they belong. The Falcons have until Sunday afternoon to set their initial 53-man roster, and this final preseason week could carry major weight in those decisions.
Stefanski made it clear the Falcons are approaching it like a real game week.
"We'll treat this week like a regular-season schedule. We'll be into our regular-season work. Today (Monday) will be a Wednesday."
That approach should give Atlanta a true final test before the games start counting. The starters get a chance to sharpen their timing, the bubble players get one more shot to make an impression, and the coaching staff gets another full evaluation before the roster gets locked in.
For some players, every snap on Friday could matter.
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The edge-rusher situation looks even more pressing now after Derek Barnett signed with the Browns, removing one of the more obvious veteran options from the board. Miami is expected to keep scanning the waiver wire for help, and the pass-rushing corps has become one of the more important areas to watch as the team tries to shore up the back end of the defense before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
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Hollands exit landed in the middle of broader changes around the franchise, with Miamis management structure shifting and free agency offering a different path than the one both sides might have imagined a year earlier. Even in a preseason setting, the matchup gave the Dolphins another look at a player they know well, and Hollands post only added to the sense that this separation still carries some sting. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Be Forced Into Another Former First-Round Gamble
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Murray, once a Chargers first-rounder and later with the Titans and Cowboys, is one of several unsigned former first-round free agents under 30 who could still draw interest around the league. For Miami, the question is less about pedigree than fit and availability, and whether another reclamation project can provide immediate depth without forcing the front office into a long-term commitment. [Read more 🡒]