ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons' opening loss at Pittsburgh only added more uncertainty to the quarterback question that has persisted since the start of training camp.
Cooper Rush's performance in the Falcons' 20-13 loss to the Steelers on Sunday had some fans wondering why undrafted rookie Jack Strand wasn't given an opportunity and more fans asking when Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa will be ready to play. Rush threw two interceptions, including T.J. Watt's pick-6 in the fourth quarter. He completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.
Rush was named the starter on Friday after Tagovailoa was ruled out with an oblique injury. Rush started despite having back spasms on Saturday. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Rush was close to full health, but the conservative game plan with an emphasis on short passes placed too much of a burden on running back Bijan Robinson.
Stefanski said Monday he had no update on Tagovailoa or on Penix, who did not play in the preseason as he continues his recovery from a torn ligament in his left knee that ended his 2025 season. Penix was cleared for full team drills late in training camp.
Both Tagovailoa and Penix were inactive against the Steelers, and it is not known if either will return for next Sunday's home opener against Carolina.

#penix #steelers #loss #training

The Falcons emerged from Week 1 with injury issues on both their offensive and defensive lines.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that right guard Chris Lindstrom is in the concussion protocol after being injured in Sunday's loss to the Steelers. Stefanski also confirmed that defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand tore his quad and will miss the rest of the season.
Lindstrom played 51 offensive snaps before leaving the game. Kyle Hinton played nine snaps in his place and Lindstrom's progress through the protocol will determine if he's back in the lineup against the Panthers.
Hand only played seven snaps in what will be his only appearance of the season. He signed a one-year deal with Atlanta as a free agent this offseason.

#played #snaps #protocol #only

Falcons news: Which legendary RB did Bijan Robinson study to improve? appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Falcons will be without projected starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday's Week 1 opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which could mean a bigger dose of star running back Bijan Robinson in offensive coordinator Tommy Rees' attack.
Robinson is hoping for a stellar season under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, who added an exciting new wrinkle to the Falcons' offense that Robinson believes plays to his strengths. Back-to-back 1,400-plus yard seasons have inspired confidence in Robinson, but the Falcons running back has bigger goals.
He spoke on Friday about the player he patterned his game after, name dropping one of the NFL's all-time greats on ESPN's This is Football show.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#bijan

Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons will start Cooper Rush in place of injured quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in their season opener, they announced Friday.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Jack Strand will be the Falcons' second string quarterback for the matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Pittsburgh.
"He's a very competitive person, so disappointed," Stefanski told reporters, when asked about Tagovailoa. "But he's going to rally behind Coop and do everything he can to help Coop."
Rush took all of the Falcons' first-team offensive reps Thursday and continued to lead passing drills at Friday's practice session. The veteran quarterback threw for 303 yards, with no touchdowns and four interceptions, over four appearances last season for the Baltimore Ravens.
Rush completed 61.1% of his throws for 3,766 yards, 20 scores and 14 interceptions over the first 42 appearances of his NFL career. He started 16 times during that span.

#tagovailoa #pittsburgh #season #first

Will the Falcons cut Tua Tagovailoa? Why QB's Atlanta tenure could meet swift end after latest injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
When the Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa early in the offseason, it was viewed as a low-risk, high-reward deal that wouldn't cost them much.
Ideally, Tagovailoa would either join the Falcons as a starter, helping ignite Kevin Stefanski's collection of offensive weapons en route to NFC South contention, or, at the very least, he'd help Michael Penix Jr.'s development by pushing him in a competition. So far, neither of those things have happened — and Tagovailoa may not last long in Atlanta.
After initially being name the QB1 for Week 1, then being ruled out due to an injury in practice, recent reports indicate that Tagovailoa's stint with the Falcons may be short-lived.
Here's what to know about Tagovailoa's future in Atlanta and his latest injury.

#sporting #kevin

Both the Steelers and the Falcons have new coaching staffs heading into Week 1. It's safe to say both franchises will be looking to start their new era off on the right foot with a victory. I spoke with Kevin Knight of The Falcoholic to learn a bit about what's new with the Atlanta Falcons.
Kevin Knight: Well, now even Tua Tagovailoa is out of the lineup thanks to an oblique injury suffered during individual drills on Thursday. That means Cooper Rush at the helm (who, in truth, may not be any worse than Tua based on the aforementioned preseason). What you're going to see is a lot of quick game, and as much Bijan Robinson as the team can muster. If Atlanta can run the ball well and get Bijan going, they can score points. So that'll be the plan, with the passing game largely taking a complementary role until Michael Penix Jr. returns.
Kevin Knight: This is a good defense that will have to find ways to manufacture pass rush. Thankfully, Jeff Ulbrich is an evil genius with his blitz packages, and he's got a lot of interesting looks planned. Expect to see a lot of linebacker and slot blitzes to supplement their weaker edge rusher room, along with a lot of emphasis on interior pass rush. Atlanta has a really nice interior duo with Brandon Dorlus (who was leading all interior defensive linemen in the NFC with 8.5 sacks last season before injury) and trade acquisition Gervon Dexter Sr. They're hoping the interior can offset some of their weaknesses outside.
Kevin Knight: I like Kevin Stefanski and think it pretty much takes a miracle worker to extract any amount of success from the Cleveland Browns organization. It does seem like there's a coherent, forward-thinking plan in place for this Falcons team for the first time in years. I don't necessarily expect a lot of success in 2026 based on the moves made to this point and the way the team is structured, but I do expect Atlanta to be one of the most aggressive teams in free agency and the draft in 2027.
Kevin Knight: As I mentioned before, Brandon Dorlus is a borderline-elite interior pass rusher who may also get some run on the edge. Linebacker Divine Deablo was the biggest surprise in last year's free agent class and completely transformed the defense when he was on the field. Second-year safety Xavier Watts was a DROY candidate in 2025 and forms a dynamic duo with veteran Jessie Bates III. Atlanta will be starting two rookies on defense: Avieon Terrell (brother of A.J. Terrell) in the slot, and Kendal Daniels at linebacker. Both impressed in training camp, with Daniels being a particularly pleasant surprise given his Day 3 selection.

#expect

Welcome back, readers! I am happy to return for a second year as The Sporting Tribune's fantasy football ****** yst. If you are new here, my mission is to help fantasy managers with any dilemmas or questions they may have through the course of the season to ultimately win their leagues. For the next 17 weeks, I will produce weekly fantasy content that will go over the waiver wire, rankings, and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em columns.
Being a fantasy manager often means having to make difficult roster decisions, but I aim to take some of the guesswork out of it with my Start 'Em and Sit 'Em column for every position. It goes without saying that I won't include obvious calls like "start Trey McBride" or "sit Tommy DeVito." Instead, I search for players that could be perceived as fringe that could propel your lineups for weekly wins.
As always, if you have any questions or don't see your players on here, feel free to follow me on Twitter (X) – JamesNewell96 and send me a message, where I typically respond in a timely manner.
Kyle Pitts Sr. @ PIT (Projected FPTS - 9.4): Despite the news of Cooper Rush likely being named the Week One starter, I am still high on Pitts. He finished last season as one of the top fantasy tight ends with Kirk Cousins under center. Besides, Atlanta doesn't really have many options for pass catchers after Bijan Robinson and Drake London, and new head coach Kevin Stefanski typically uses his tight ends. Pittsburgh is also a favorable matchup, allowing 11 touchdowns and the third-most points to the position last season.
Dallas Goedert vs. WSH (Projected FPTS - 8.5): Goedert finished last season with a career-high 11 touchdowns. While it's easy to ****** ume some regression, the Eagles traded A.J. Brown, and rookie wideout Makai Lemon is coming off a hamstring injury. Philly's passing attack will likely feature DeVonta Smith and Goedert for at least the early part of the season. He will take on a Commanders team that allowed 12 touchdowns the season before (tied for the second-most). Goedert should expect to see a fair share of targets, making him worth putting in your lineup.

#fantasy #touchdowns #projected

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left practice Thursday with an oblique injury.
Tagovailoa bent over in obvious discomfort after throwing a pass during a portion of practice open to media and grabbed his right side. He dropped to the ground for a few seconds before getting up and trying to shake off the injury.
It's unclear if he returned to practice. The Falcons listed him as a limited participant.
Tagovailoa's first game with the Falcons is at Pittsburgh on Sunday. It's the same spot where he made the last start of his rocky final season with Miami.
Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski announced Monday that Tagovailoa will open the season as the starter and Michael Penix Jr. will be inactive. Cooper Rush will be the backup.

#tagovailoa #injury #season #thursday

The Falcons' plan to start Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback against the Steelers on Sunday may have changed on Thursday.
Reporters at the open portion of practice shared that Tagovailoa appeared to hurt his back at one point and that he did not throw any more passes before the team closed the session to outside eyes. It doesn't sound like he did much work over the rest of the session either.
Cooper Rush told reporters that he took all of the first-team reps during practice. Rush was set to be the backup against Pittsburgh as Michael Penix is going to be inactive for the opening game of the season.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski is scheduled to speak to reporters on Friday and he could deliver the news that Tagovailoa's run as the starter in Atlanta is over before it even started.

#tagovailoa #rush #team #sunday

It's been a tough week for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as he prepares to make his team debut this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tagovailoa was named the starting QB for Week 1, but head coach Kevin Stefanski wouldn't commit to him beyond the season opener.
While it's clear that Tagovailoa needs to play well to keep the job, those around the NFL have strong doubts about his ability to do so. Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin roasted Tua during his NBC broadcast debut on Wednesday evening.
"It's less about Aaron for me and it's more about the quarterback on the other side," Tomlin said of Tagovailoa. "His last visit to Pittsburgh didn't go well. I was in the stadium that day. They lost. He got benched. So I think it's going to be a good day for Mike McCarthy, Patrick Graham, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and company."
Tagovailoa went 22-for-28 for 253 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 28-15 loss in his last game against Pittsburgh. The Dolphins benched him the following week and his time in Miami came to an end shortly after.
Unfortunately, it gets worse for Tagovailoa. NBC insider Mike Florio reported that Tagovailoa is in danger of potentially being released once he is benched in Atlanta.

#pittsburgh #atlanta

The preseason is officially wrapped up, and NFL teams have finalized their final 53-man rosters as they prepare to begin the regular season in just over a week.
In a league like the NFL, where experience can really mean everything, it's always interesting at this time of year to examine the age of NFL rosters. Some teams are in the midst of youth movements on their roster, while others are loaded to the gills with veteran talent. For most teams, it's a combination of those two, though some teams trend heavier one way or the other. Let's take a look at the oldest and the youngest rosters in the NFL to start the season.
Steelers - 27.4 years old: Aaron Rodgers leads a group loaded with fellow veterans, including Cam Heyward and Chris Boswell, that makes the Steelers tied for the league's oldest roster.
Falcons - 27.4 years old: Michael Penix Jr., starting at quarterback, provides some youth, but first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski has surrounded him with one of the oldest rosters in the league.
Rams - 27.3 years old: The Rams welcome veteran defensive end Myles Garrett, and with Matthew Stafford back for another year at quarterback and Aaron Donald out of retirement, the Rams have quite an experienced roster.

#year #season

The Atlanta Falcons made their first big move to get under the 53-man limit by cutting 11 players on Saturday. This roster shakeup includes the surprising release of linebacker Channing Tindall and the placement of cornerback Darren Hall on injured reserve. According to reports, the team waived seven players, moved Hall to IR, and released three others to reach 79 total players. This is a massive shift for a roster that looked different just 24 hours ago.
Many fans will feel the sting of seeing Channing Tindall go. He stood out in the preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts, yet the team decided to move on. Falcons Wire reported that Tindall, along with defensive back Keidron Smith and tight end Joshua Simon, will have to look for work elsewhere. The front office clearly wants a different mix of talent for this new era under Kevin Stefanski. It hurts to lose a player who showed promise, but the math of the roster forces these tough choices.
Placing Darren Hall on injured reserve is a financial and strategic blow that many missed. Hall was a fourth-round pick who signed a four-year deal worth $4,284,748 with an $804,748 signing bonus on that rookie deal. NFL Trade Rumors observed that his contract entered its third year when Atlanta released him following the preseason. The team signed him to a new contract in May, only to cut him just weeks later. This looks like a clear signal that the coaching staff does not see him as a key part of the long-term plan.
In 2025, Hall played 13 games for the Cardinals while tallying 21 total tackles. He was a solid contributor, but the Falcons are willing to eat the cost to clear a spot for someone they believe is better. The move saves cap ***** e but leaves a hole in the secondary depth. It is a risky gamble to cut a player so quickly, but the new regime is not afraid to make bold moves.
The final cuts also included wide receiver Keelan Marion, defensive tackle Devonnsha Maxwell, and offensive lineman Andrew Stueber. Falcons Wire listed these names among the notable players waived on Saturday afternoon. Marion ended the final game versus the Dolphins with a single catch for nine yards, yet his tenure in Atlanta has concluded. The team now has 24 hours left to get the roster down to the final 53 before the Sunday evening deadline.

#falcons #roster #team #saturday

The gap Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa has been closed in the Atlanta Falcons quarterback race, according to Yahoo Sports. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport says the lead Tagovailoa held is gone. Both players will now split first-team reps to settle the starting job. The competition is wide open and the pressure is on for both men.
Tagovailoa started with a huge advantage. He looked great during the offseason while Penix was stuck on the sideline. The organization wanted him to win the job and move forward as the starter. That plan relied on Penix staying injured for a while. But the knee injury healed faster than expected.
Penix needed surgery in the week of November 24, 2025, to address a partially torn ACL in his left knee. Before that hurt knee, he threw for 1,982 yards. He completed 60.1 per cent of his passes. Nine total touchdowns and three interceptions were recorded by him during the 2025 season. Now he is back and ready to fight.
Tagovailoa has not looked as sharp in the preseason. Both in practice and in games, Rapoport noted that he had been inconsistent. The gap that seemed so wide has shrunk to nothing. Rapoport explained that Tagovailoa 'had a big-time lead in this race'. That lead is under serious pressure now.
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the split reps. This move proves the door is open for Penix. Rapoport stated that while he seems to have been practicing better the last couple of days, the door is open for Michael Penix. That quote from Rapoport sums up the whole situation perfectly.

#lead #michael #race

With the 2026 NFL preseason behind us, the Atlanta Falcons have until Sunday at 6 p.m. ET to trim their roster down from 90 to 53 players. The Falcons, like most NFL teams, have some tough decisions to make, and their lack of overall depth makes these final cuts especially difficult.
Atlanta has seen a handful of undrafted free agents shine in training camp and the preseason. Quarterback Jack Strand, defensive tackle Carlos Allen and cornerback Malcolm DeWalt IV are among those in the mix for roster spots.
The Falcons closed out the preseason with a 17-12 win over the Miami Dolphins, and now the clock is ticking on head coach Kevin Stefanski to carve out his first 53-man roster in Atlanta. Follow each cut as the Falcons trim their way down to 53 players ahead of Sunday's roster deadline.
(No moves yet! Check back soon.)
Here's a look at the Falcons' current 90-man roster arranged by position group. We'll remove players once they are released so you can see where the team stands at each position.

#falcons #roster #down #quarterback

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who joined team drills for the first time on Monday, will not play in the team's final preseason game at Miami on Friday night.
The decision could have strong implications on Penix being available for the start of the regular season. The much-anticipated competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Penix for the starting job was put on hold through much of training camp as Penix continued his recovery from his 2025 season-ending injury to his left knee. Penix was limited to seven-on-seven and individual drills before his first 11-on-11 work this week.
Though Penix will not have played in any of the team's three preseason games, Stefanski insisted he was encouraged by the quarterback's progress.
"I thought he did well," Stefanski said of Penix's performance in practice on Wednesday. "I thought he looked good. He moved around well. I think all that work, like I've told you guys the whole time, and you've seen it with your own eyes, like he's put a lot of work into this. I think you see that in his getting away from center, making throws, etc."
Stefanski said Tagovailoa will start at Miami, followed by Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand.

#penix #time

Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Jack Strand was so good against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday that head coach Kevin Stefanski found himself fielding questions about whether or not Strand was competing for the team's QB1 job.
Stefanski's answer might have left the door open, but Strand isn't realistically pushing for the QB1 job at the moment. The comments were likely a result of Tua Tagovailoa's underwhelming play and the fact that Michael Penix Jr. has just one 11-on-11 practice under their belt.
We'd be shocked if Strand ends up starting any games for Altanta this year, but he was admittedly spectacular against the Colts - good enough to earn an "A" grade from Carter Bahns at CBS Sports.
"The Falcons might just have something in Jack Strand. He arrived in Atlanta as a relative unknown, having gone undrafted out of Division II Minnesota State–Moorhead, but he made a name for himself in two preseason outings. Following the rushing touchdown he logged in Week 1, Strand erupted for 212 passing yards, a touchdown and another score on the ground in a drubbing of the Colts. He and Cooper Rush combined to complete 16 of their first 17 throws, and his rushing ability (22 yards on nine carries) is obvious and differentiates him in the battle for the No. 3 quarterback job."
While it's a remote scenario, the Falcons can't afford to stay on their current course if it's not working out. Right now the plan should be to start Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. the first month of the season - and if he doesn't impress then the other should get the ball until midseason.

#falcons #colts #jack #michael

Falcons QB battle just took a wild turn after huge Michael Penix Jr. news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback competition is about to get much more interesting.
Michael Penix Jr. has been cleared to fully participate in practice, including 11-on-11 team periods, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Saturday following Atlanta's 34-6 preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
The clearance represents a major step for Penix, who underwent surgery on his left ACL in November. Throughout the offseason and training camp, the former first-round pick had been limited primarily to individual drills and 7-on-7 work.
Now, Penix will finally get an opportunity to compete under the same practice conditions as Tua Tagovailoa.

#falcons #preferred #stefanski

Michael Penix Jr. has been cleared for 11-on-11 competition, Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Saturday after his team's 34-6 road win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 of the preseason.
"He'll practice Monday in team periods," Stefanski said.
Penix had been limited this offseason while recovering from a partially torn ACL that required season-ending surgery last year. That setback marked the 26-year-old's fifth season-ending injury in the span of eight seasons between his college and NFL careers.
Play Yahoo's new College Fantasy Football game: Create or join a league now!
Since OTAs in the spring, the former Washington star's practice participation has boiled down to individual work and 7-on-7 periods.

#periods #ending

The Atlanta Falcons pulverized the Indianapolis Colts in Saturday's 34-6 preseason road victory. One week after turning in a dreadful offensive performance against the Denver Broncos, the Falcons turned the tides with stellar quarterback play.
Veteran quarterback Cooper Rush set the tone with a 10-for-11, 86-yard showing in the first half. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand took over late in the third quarter and played even better. Strand finished 12-for-17 for 212 yards, two touchdowns (one rushing) and a passer rating of 132.5.
Naturally, Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski was happy with what he saw on Saturday, especially from the team's young players.
"You saw a bunch of examples of young players playing really fast today," said Stefanski. "I think that's a great combination of them understanding what to do and just having great effort."
When asked about the performance of his quarterbacks, Stefanski said both "made good decisions" with the football. Watch Stefanski's full post-game press conference, as shared by the team's YouTube channel below.

#strand #quarterback #atlanta #indianapolis

After a flirtation with returning to Cleveland, veteran defensive end Za'Darius Smith has decided to go to Atlanta instead.
Smith has signed a one-year deal with the Falcons, the team announced this morning.
The signing comes a day after Smith worked out for the Falcons, news that came as a surprise because there had been reports he would sign with the Browns. Smith apparently liked the Falcons' offer better, and they might have increased their offer as a result of losing two defensive ends this month: James Pearce Jr. was suspended for eight games by the NFL, and Jalon Walker suffered a season-ending knee injury on August 4.
Smith previously played for Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland in 2023 and 2024.
Last year Smith signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Eagles, only to leave the team after five games and announce his retirement. But now he has decided to return to the field. And he'll give the Falcons the depth at defensive end they needed.

#smith #defensive #team

Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski did not get the result he wanted in Friday's preseason-opening loss to the Denver Broncos, but he remains confident that his team is trending in the right direction entering this weekend's matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Stefanski met with the media ahead of Monday's practice and provided some injury updates on Jake Matthews, Jawaan Taylor, Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts.
Matthews won't practice due to an undisclosed injury he suffered against the Broncos, but Stefanski said he wasn't overly concerned and that the veteran left tackle should be good to go for joint practices with the Colts later this week.
Meanwhile, Watts, Bates and Taylor are all back at practice after sitting out of Friday's preseason opener, per team reporter Tori McElhaney.
Stefanski was also asked about the team's poor offensive performance in Friday's loss, including that of his quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

#Broncos #matthews #taylor #bates

The Atlanta Falcons registered their first unofficial game of the 2026 season, when they opened the Mercedes Benz Stadium up for a matchup against last year's AFC Finalist Denver Broncos.
Despite Michael Penix still not being cleared for full contact and Bijan Robinson also being held out, there was real excitement as new head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that the starters would play in the preseason in Atlanta for the first time in years.
That excitement was quickly dashed, however, as the Falcons found themselves down 24-0 at halftime, before mercifully going down with a whimper to the tune of a final scoreline of 27-7. This night showed that there was a lot of work still to do, with the regular season about a month away from kicking off.
This is a look at whose stock is pointing up after the first preseason game and whose is pointing down.
Jack Strand is looking to achieve the rare feat of becoming an undrafted rookie quarterback to make a 53-man NFL roster to start the season, and he looked by far the best quarterback that the Falcons deployed in this game. In fairness, it didn't take much to look better than Cooper Rush or Tua Tagovailoa (we'll get to them), but Strand looked like he belonged.

#strand

The Atlanta Falcons' 2026 NFL preseason opener turned into an array of online banter after Tua Tagovailoa's tough start with the franchise.
Regular season play is still weeks away from launching the new NFL season. However, Falcons fans are growing restless after Tagovailoa's brutal opening drive against the Denver Broncos.
MORE: Steelers' Keeanu Benton makes franchise history with massive extension
Kevin Stefanski opted to give Tagovailoa just one series during Friday night's preseason opener. Although, that quick spell of plays was enough to create an outpour of online memes and criticism.
The former college football standout passed for just 22 yards and nearly fumbled a snap while falling to the ground. However, the most viral clip of the evening came when Michael Penix Jr. is seen pointing at Tua during an awkward encounter.

#falcons #online #atlanta

Given how long Sean Payton spent in the past coaching the New Orleans Saints, perhaps it should come as no surprise to fans that he loves any excuse he can get to troll the Atlanta Falcons. And he found a prime opportunity to do so as his current team, the Denver Broncos, visited the Falcons to open the preseason on Friday.
The Broncos took no time in getting back to looking like the team that captured the AFC's No. 1 seed in the playoffs last year, jumping out to a 24-0 lead at the halftime break before eventually capturing a 27-7 win. And when interviewed at halftime, Payton also took no time in finding a way to add insult to injury with a reference to a lackluster turnout by Falcons fans
"A lot of people dressed up as empty seats today," Payton quipped.
Of course, the fans who were in attendance weren't feeling too chipper about Atlanta's performance either, with boos being showered down upon the team as they hit the locker room at the end of the first half. So while Payton wasn't impressed with the fan turnout, those who did make their way to the game didn't seem to feel there was much reason to return.
The Falcons totaled just 192 yards of offense and turned the ball over twice in the loss, which doesn't paint the most optimistic picture of what the Kevin Stefanski era might look like. But the Broncos, on the other hand, looked every bit the elite defense that they were in 2025 – indicating that their reign atop the AFC might not yet be finished.

#like

Tua Tagovailoa's Falcons debut on Friday showed that he and the rest of the Atlanta offense have some work to do.
Granted, it was a brief outing, with Tagovailoa only playing two series with the starters in Atlanta against the Denver Broncos, and it wasn't the full lineup. RB Bijan Robinson and RT Jawaan Taylor both sat out, and Drake London only played a few snaps.
But even against a good Denver defense that fielded some of its starting unit, the Falcons' offense showed little of the firepower they're hoping for in the regular season, with their three main playmakers back.
On Tagovailoa's first series, the Falcons went three and out. Tua dropped a shotgun snap that hit him squarely in the hands, leading to a sack, and they punted one play later.
The second series wasn't much better. The Broncos were getting pressure often, with Tagovailoa having to throw multiple passes away. He was hit hard on third down, which might have led head coach Kevin Stefanski to say no mas.

#denver #showed #only

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

Despite all their talent on both sides of the ball, the Atlanta Falcons have been getting consistently disrespected in power rankings and projections from the national media this offseason. Fully healthy and with a decent starting quarterback, Atlanta should be able to take the NFC South division this year.
However, it seems few around the league are buying what Kevin Stefanski and Co. are selling. In fact, some ***** ysts are predicting a last-place finish for the Falcons in the league's worst division.
That includes Moe Moton at Bleacher Report, who has Atlanta ending the year at 5-12, good for fourth place.
"Atlanta won't be able to slow down opponents without a respectable pass rush. According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Falcons edge-rusher James Pearce Jr. has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police and resisting an officer with violence... Pearce has not been convicted of any offense. Last week, fellow edge-rusher Jalon Walker tore his ACL. If Tua Tagovailoa wins the starting quarterback job over Michael Penix Jr., who is still recovering from knee surgery, he will need another 4,600-plus-yard passing season to keep the Falcons out of the NFC South basement."
The twin blows of losing Jalon Walker for the year to an ACL tear and the coming suspension of Pearce (likely for at least half the season) have several ***** ysts down on Atlanta going into the preseason, understandably.

#quarterback

Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson have both been on the job for roughly a week now, getting to see how first-year head coach Todd Monken runs training camp. Both are competing to become the next starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, and oddly enough, they've both already done the job before.
Yet, this time, as Monken has stressed since the moment he accepted the job, it's a clean slate. While Sanders and Watson came to learn what Kevin Stefanski was looking for, what will set the competition apart in Monken's mind?
Just in case there's still any doubt left in their minds, Browns general manager Andrew Berry just laid the foundation for what the respective QBs need to do to win the starting job.
Appearing on ESPN's "This is Football" with Kevin Clark, Berry revealed what he's looking for from his quarterbacks.
"I think the big thing is, operating and decision-making," Berry said. "You think about quarterback, right, the ball's gonna be in that player's hand, whether they throw it, run it, hand it off, you know, call it 60 times a game, so there's a set of at least 60 decisions that player's going to make.

#starting

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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

Former Washington Huskies star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has taken the next step in his rehab from a torn ACL as he aims to regain his starting job with the Atlanta Falcons.
During the early days of training camp, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, after leading the Huskies to a 25-3 record in his two years as a starter and finishing as the runner-up for the 2023 Heisman Trophy, was seen participating in individual and 7-on-7 drills, but he is not yet cleared to return to full team periods of practice.
After making such a significant investment through the draft in the rocket-armed lefty, the Falcons are playing it safe, and based on Penix's recent comments, that may be the best decision.
"To be honest, I've been feeling really good," Penix told the media on Wednesday. "I feel like I can do everything, but I have to still be smart about it. I can't afford to have somebody trip and fall and land on me right now."
With veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also sidelined with a sore back, Penix has an opportunity to show off his arm talent to new head coach Kevin Stefanski. He made one of the biggest plays at practice on Wednesday, completing a 45-yard touchdown to rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch in a 7-on-7 period, displaying his elite ability to push the ball down the field.

#michael