FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons held their first practice ahead of an expectation-filled season Thursday. After adding free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to a big-money deal and hiring former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as their head coach, the Falcons find themselves with plenty of potential but lots of questions, as well.
“Every year there are going to be expectations,” safety Jessie Bates said. “It’s part of what we do. There is going to be some pressure that is added, but none of that outside noise really matters. What really matters is what we set for our team. Throughout the season there will be ups and downs. At the end of the day, all that matters is what’s out there on the field. I’m very excited to figure out what those expectations are not from outside noise but from what we can be.”
That’s what will happen in training camp. Here are the five biggest storylines for that camp.
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The quarterback snaps
When the Falcons selected Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick of the draft, it raised questions about exactly how they felt about Cousins. It looks like those questions will be answered adamantly during training camp. Cousins, the 13-year veteran, will get every first-team practice rep, and Penix will spend most of his time on the second field with the young and roster-bubble players, Morris said before practice.
Cousins, who tore his Achilles tendon in Week 8 last year while playing for the Vikings, feels healthy enough to do just that, he said after the workout.
“Great to be back out here. In my situation, it’s just great to be moving around in football cleats again and feeling stronger,” he said. “Compared to six weeks ago, I feel much more athletic and much less pain. I’m expecting to be able to practice full go.”
Cousins is hoping to play in at least one of Atlanta’s three preseason games but isn’t optimistic he’ll get that chance.
“I think that ask fell on deaf ears,” he said. “Raheem’s model is, ‘You’re not playing.’ Maybe I could persuade him.”
We’re back to work! pic.twitter.com/DXnrKfqAGz
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 25, 2024
The Falcons’ first preseason game is Aug. 9 against the Dolphins after two days of joint practices in Miami.
“Who knows how the Dolphins practices will go. Maybe he’ll want to see us in the game (after that),” Cousins said. “I think seeing live bullets and playing is helpful, but I also understand the logic of not doing it. Everything we do is calculated and that will be as well.”
The Falcons held what Morris called “a jog through” Thursday and will ramp up the intensity as training camp goes on. Cousins ran the offense in 11-on-11 drills for most of the practice but never threw the ball downfield, only mimicking long throws. Veteran quarterback Taylor Heinicke briefly came to the first field to watch those reps but didn’t participate. Penix spent his whole day on the second field running the 11-on-11 work.
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The cornerback questions
Veteran Mike Hughes started at cornerback ahead of second-year pro Clark Phillips III on Thursday, but that figures to be only the start of the cornerback conversation in Atlanta heading into the season. While Hughes and Phillips battle to start opposite A.J. Terrell, the Falcons could add a veteran free agent before the season starts. Xavien Howard, Stephon Gilmore, Adoree’ Jackson and J.C. Jackson are among the cornerbacks still available.
Phillips and Kevin King, who started 42 games for the Packers in five years but hasn’t played since 2021, were the second-team cornerbacks during Thursday’s practice.
Terrell, meanwhile, is entering his fifth-year-option season. He participated fully Thursday and said after practice that he’s comfortable with where discussions stand with the team about a potential second contract in Atlanta.
“I’m just focused on being with the team and being involved and let my agent do what he does,” Terrell said. “It’s easy for me to come to work and not think about it and know that it’s in good hands. I’m just playing football and controlling what I can.”
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The tight end rotation
Adding to the questions about how the new offensive staff plans to use fourth-year tight end Kyle Pitts is that Atlanta added two veteran tight ends from San Francisco in free agency. Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley were mostly used as blockers with the 49ers, but both got plenty of work with the offense during Thursday’s opening day.
Pitts was with the starters and still got his share, too. He lined up in several spots as the Falcons worked through myriad formations, including bunch sets, five-wide looks and two-back formations.
Pitts had 53 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns last season. He has 149 catches for 2,049 yards and six touchdowns so far in Atlanta, which used the No. 4 pick of the 2021 draft to acquire him.
“We’ll use him all over the formation,” offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said. “We’ll use him as a blocker. We’ll use him as a receiver. Just excited to see him get more comfortable in the system. The sky’s the limit.”
The Falcons have placed Pitts in a four-person dorm room with quarterbacks Cousins, Penix and Heinicke for training camp.
Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett is back in action after tearing an ACL in Week 8 last season. (Dale Zanine / USA Today)
The 10th-year defensive lineman, who tore his ACL in Week 8 last season, was a full participant in the first practice and is expected to get plenty of reps with what Morris called minor “modifications” during the preseason.
“It makes me feel better” to have him on the field,” Morris said. “Grady lights up everything he does. Grady is Atlanta. He embodies everything we are about. He defines our ethos.”
Jarrett’s presence will be critical for a defensive front seven the Falcons hope can make up for the lack of a star pass rusher with a cumulative effort. They drafted four front-seven defenders this offseason. Defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro and edge rusher Bralen Trice worked on the first field with the regulars Thursday while defensive linemen Brandon Dorlus and Zion Logue worked on the second field.
“We have to get quarterbacks uncomfortable,” Morris said. “If we can get those guys uncomfortable with whether it be secondary pressure guys, linebackers or just up front pass rush, whether it be schemed, whether it be chicanery. Whatever it is, you want to affect the quarterback.”
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The new kickoff rule
The first team drill of Atlanta’s preseason was spent working on the NFL’s new kickoff format, a clear indication the Falcons, like the rest of the league, are still trying to figure out exactly how it will work. Morris expects teams around the league to spend 25 percent more practice time on kickoffs this year than last year.
“That’s the big unknown,” he said. “We all are going to be searching for (the answer). It’s exciting. Another thing that is new. You can’t knock it till you try it.”
The Falcons worked three two-man groups of returners during practice, and somewhat surprisingly running back Bijan Robinson was not among the group. Avery Williams and Ray-Ray McCloud were with the first unit. Mike Hughes and Rondale Moore were with the second and Dee Alford and Carlos Washington were with the third.
(Top photo of Kirk Cousins and John Paddock: Dale Zanine / USA Today)
