2 days ago
A new chapter begins for the Atlanta Falcons tonight as they host the Denver Broncos in their first preseason game of the year. It's also the first game ever under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, general manager Ian Cunningham and president of football Matt Ryan.
Atlanta did a good job of locking up its best players with contract extensions this offseason (Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, Matthew Bergeron) but there hasn't been much excitement around the new players they've brought in.
At the top of the list are the team's top two draft picks, second-round cornerback Avieon Terrell and wide receiver Zachariah Branch. Both have been ranked among the NFL's top 100 rookies in a new list by Bleacher Report. Terrell came in at No. 43 in their rankings.
"The spot "in front" of Avieon Terrell on the Falcons depth chart is Mike Hughes, who is an experienced but below-average corner. Terrell is a competitor who showcases excellent zone coverage and plays bigger than his size. If he can snare the starting job opposite his brother, who wouldn't want to see that happen?!"
Terrell has shown some promise at training camp, including a pick off Tua Tagovailoa. However, he is dealing with an undisclosed injury that may keep him out of Friday night's preseason opener.
#terrell #avieon #game
Atlanta did a good job of locking up its best players with contract extensions this offseason (Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, Matthew Bergeron) but there hasn't been much excitement around the new players they've brought in.
At the top of the list are the team's top two draft picks, second-round cornerback Avieon Terrell and wide receiver Zachariah Branch. Both have been ranked among the NFL's top 100 rookies in a new list by Bleacher Report. Terrell came in at No. 43 in their rankings.
"The spot "in front" of Avieon Terrell on the Falcons depth chart is Mike Hughes, who is an experienced but below-average corner. Terrell is a competitor who showcases excellent zone coverage and plays bigger than his size. If he can snare the starting job opposite his brother, who wouldn't want to see that happen?!"
Terrell has shown some promise at training camp, including a pick off Tua Tagovailoa. However, he is dealing with an undisclosed injury that may keep him out of Friday night's preseason opener.
#terrell #avieon #game
5 days ago
The Atlanta Falcons are just three days away from making their 2026 NFL season preseason debut against the Denver Broncos. While we don't know how many of the team's starters will play in Friday's opener, the players have been putting in some serious work at practice.
In today's Falcons Wire Recap, Tua Tagovailoa heats up, Michael Penix Jr. draws praise from quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, Atlanta signs two more players to the roster and Avieon Terrell is held out of practice due to injury.
The Falcons claimed former Alabama guard Jaeden Roberts off of waivers from the Eagles on Tuesday afternoon. Roberts, an undrafted free agent, signed with Philadelphia following the 2026 NFL Draft but was waived on Monday. Atlanta could use the extra depth up front after waiving former seventh-round pick Jack Nelson earlier this week.
"Roberts is a powerful guard-only prospect with elite body composition but technique that falls below the NFL mark," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote in Roberts' pre-draft scouting report. "He has legendary weight-room strength that will flash on tape, but he struggles to play under control and cleanly fit blocks."
The Falcons signed veteran tight end Nick Muse to their 90-man roster on Tuesday morning. The team also placed undrafted free agent wide receiver Le'Meke Brockington and linebacker Malik Verdon on the waived/injured list in corresponding moves.
#play #roster
In today's Falcons Wire Recap, Tua Tagovailoa heats up, Michael Penix Jr. draws praise from quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, Atlanta signs two more players to the roster and Avieon Terrell is held out of practice due to injury.
The Falcons claimed former Alabama guard Jaeden Roberts off of waivers from the Eagles on Tuesday afternoon. Roberts, an undrafted free agent, signed with Philadelphia following the 2026 NFL Draft but was waived on Monday. Atlanta could use the extra depth up front after waiving former seventh-round pick Jack Nelson earlier this week.
"Roberts is a powerful guard-only prospect with elite body composition but technique that falls below the NFL mark," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote in Roberts' pre-draft scouting report. "He has legendary weight-room strength that will flash on tape, but he struggles to play under control and cleanly fit blocks."
The Falcons signed veteran tight end Nick Muse to their 90-man roster on Tuesday morning. The team also placed undrafted free agent wide receiver Le'Meke Brockington and linebacker Malik Verdon on the waived/injured list in corresponding moves.
#play #roster
10 days ago
The Atlanta Falcons have a few big question marks on defense as they prepare for their preseason opener next week. With linebacker Jalon Walker officially out for the season due to a torn ACL, and James Pearce Jr. facing a possible suspension, Atlanta's pass rush may have trouble replicating last year's success.
The team has gone through its first seven training camp practices, but there are a few other starting spots on defense that remain unsettled. Billy Bowman Jr. is on the active PUP list as he works his way back from an Achilles injury, while Zach Harrison is on the active non-football injury list.
The Falcons are still working out their nickel rotation, and considering the severity of Bowman's injury, I could see the team being cautious with their projected starter going into Week 1. Even though I believe rookie Avieon Terrell will ultimately play on the outside, it wouldn't surprise me if he fills in for Bowman to start the season.
Harrison is not dealing with as severe of an injury, and I think he could be cleared by Week 1. At linebacker, Divine Deablo is set to wear the green dot, but there's still some uncertainty at the other starting spot.
Christian Harris appears to be the first in line, but don't sleep on rookies Kendal Daniels or Harold Perkins for this spot. With all of that said, here's a look at our projected Week 1 starting lineup for the Falcons defense.
#injury #starting
The team has gone through its first seven training camp practices, but there are a few other starting spots on defense that remain unsettled. Billy Bowman Jr. is on the active PUP list as he works his way back from an Achilles injury, while Zach Harrison is on the active non-football injury list.
The Falcons are still working out their nickel rotation, and considering the severity of Bowman's injury, I could see the team being cautious with their projected starter going into Week 1. Even though I believe rookie Avieon Terrell will ultimately play on the outside, it wouldn't surprise me if he fills in for Bowman to start the season.
Harrison is not dealing with as severe of an injury, and I think he could be cleared by Week 1. At linebacker, Divine Deablo is set to wear the green dot, but there's still some uncertainty at the other starting spot.
Christian Harris appears to be the first in line, but don't sleep on rookies Kendal Daniels or Harold Perkins for this spot. With all of that said, here's a look at our projected Week 1 starting lineup for the Falcons defense.
#injury #starting
12 days ago
Where to watch Falcons preseason games 2026: Full schedule, times, TV channels, live streams for Atlanta originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Falcons will look to get back to their winning ways in 2026 with a new head coach and, possibly, a new starting quarterback.
Kevin Stefanski joins Atlanta after years leading the Browns and will now have to choose between former first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. and Dolphins castoff Tua Tagovailoa to start under center.
The offense retained its three key playmakers in running back Bijan Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Drake London.
The defense is anchored in the secondary by safeties Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts, alongside rookie cornerback Avieon Terrell, the brother of the Falcons' A.J. Terrell.
#terrell #full
The Atlanta Falcons will look to get back to their winning ways in 2026 with a new head coach and, possibly, a new starting quarterback.
Kevin Stefanski joins Atlanta after years leading the Browns and will now have to choose between former first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. and Dolphins castoff Tua Tagovailoa to start under center.
The offense retained its three key playmakers in running back Bijan Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Drake London.
The defense is anchored in the secondary by safeties Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts, alongside rookie cornerback Avieon Terrell, the brother of the Falcons' A.J. Terrell.
#terrell #full
18 days ago
TheThe Atlanta Falcons had no first-round pick in this year's draft thanks to the trade-up for edge rusher James Pearce. Their first selection didn't come until the middle of Round 2, which they used on Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, the younger brother of their top cornerback, A.J. Terrell.
During his time at Clemson, Terrell mostly played the boundary, but he did put in 110 snaps in the slot last season. As he begins his first year in the NFL, it hasn't been clear what role he will play for the Falcons as of yet.
New head coach Kevin Stefanski offered some clarity on that question today, telling reporters that Terrell will see snaps both outside and at nickel.
This is probably the right way to go about it. Finding where Terrell fits best with Jeff Ulbrich's defense should be a matter of trial and error rather than trying to force a square peg into a round hole, or a 5-foot-11 defensive back into the boundary position.
Since the Falcons placed starting nickel Billy Bowman Jr. on the PUP list Wednesday morning, we wouldn't be surprised to see Terrell get more time in the slot to begin training camp. The team also signed veteran Darnay Holmes for added nickel depth.
#first #cornerback #boundary
During his time at Clemson, Terrell mostly played the boundary, but he did put in 110 snaps in the slot last season. As he begins his first year in the NFL, it hasn't been clear what role he will play for the Falcons as of yet.
New head coach Kevin Stefanski offered some clarity on that question today, telling reporters that Terrell will see snaps both outside and at nickel.
This is probably the right way to go about it. Finding where Terrell fits best with Jeff Ulbrich's defense should be a matter of trial and error rather than trying to force a square peg into a round hole, or a 5-foot-11 defensive back into the boundary position.
Since the Falcons placed starting nickel Billy Bowman Jr. on the PUP list Wednesday morning, we wouldn't be surprised to see Terrell get more time in the slot to begin training camp. The team also signed veteran Darnay Holmes for added nickel depth.
#first #cornerback #boundary
25 days ago
At a glance the best thing the Atlanta Falcons have going for them is having a lot of young talent on their roster, particularly on the offensive side of the football. It seems not everyone agrees with that **** ysis, though.
Even though they have some very promising young contributors on their roster, ESPN has only ranked the Falcons 22nd in their annual list of each team's under-25 talent. It is worth mentioning that a bunch of the team's best players are exactly 25 years old or are about to be.
"Atlanta's top offensive stars are 25 or close to it. Pitts turned 25 in October. London will be 25 on Friday. Robinson will turn 25 in late January, so he's the only one of the three players who still qualifies... The other offensive player worth mentioning is rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who is 22. Then it's all about the defense. Rookie cornerback Avieon Terrell is just 21. Edge rushers James Pearce Jr. and Walker are both 22. (We docked the Falcons a bit based on the possibility that Pearce will need to serve some sort of suspension for off-field legal issues.)"
When you consider Pitts and London being 25 and taking points off for Pearce's TBD suspension it's probably fair to rank Atlanta as below-average in this category. However, the Falcons were also ranked 22nd on this list last season, which just doesn't make much sense.
We really don't have any theories as to why Atlanta keeps getting shafted in ESPN's lists - you might recall their starting lineup was recently ranked 29th in the NFL.
#falcons #pearce #best
Even though they have some very promising young contributors on their roster, ESPN has only ranked the Falcons 22nd in their annual list of each team's under-25 talent. It is worth mentioning that a bunch of the team's best players are exactly 25 years old or are about to be.
"Atlanta's top offensive stars are 25 or close to it. Pitts turned 25 in October. London will be 25 on Friday. Robinson will turn 25 in late January, so he's the only one of the three players who still qualifies... The other offensive player worth mentioning is rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who is 22. Then it's all about the defense. Rookie cornerback Avieon Terrell is just 21. Edge rushers James Pearce Jr. and Walker are both 22. (We docked the Falcons a bit based on the possibility that Pearce will need to serve some sort of suspension for off-field legal issues.)"
When you consider Pitts and London being 25 and taking points off for Pearce's TBD suspension it's probably fair to rank Atlanta as below-average in this category. However, the Falcons were also ranked 22nd on this list last season, which just doesn't make much sense.
We really don't have any theories as to why Atlanta keeps getting shafted in ESPN's lists - you might recall their starting lineup was recently ranked 29th in the NFL.
#falcons #pearce #best
