| News |
|---|
|
Olamide Zaccheaus Olamide Zaccheaus Open competition for WR2
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 7:57 PM
Zaccheaus enters training camp in a battle against Jahan Dotson and rookie third-rounder Zachariah Branch for the Falcons' WR2 job behind Drake London (undisclosed), Tim Weaver of USA Today reports.
Analysis: After stints in Philadelphia, Washington and Chicago, Zaccheaus opted to sign a one-year contract in March to rejoin the Falcons, whom he played four seasons for from 2019 to 2022. The Virginia product has eclipsed 500 receiving yards just once in the first seven years of his NFL career, but given the lack of reliable pass catchers behind London and tight end Kyle Pitts, Zaccheaus will have the chance to establish himself as Atlanta's WR2 in training camp. Dotson brings four years of NFL experience to the table, but Zaccheaus' biggest competition figures to come from the rookie Branch, who made a strong impression on coaches and players for his speed, explosiveness and playmaking ability during college and in OTAs. |
|
Nathan Carter Nathan Carter In mix for No. 3 gig
Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 12:39 PM
Carter will compete with Tyler Goodson and Cash Jones for the Falcons' No. 3 running back spot during training camp, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Carter handled a depth role last season, rushing nine times for 60 yards across seven regular-season appearances while also playing 49 snaps on special teams. Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. are locked into the top two backfield roles, so Carter's path to the roster depends on how much special-teams value he's able to demonstrate, as well as holding off Goodson and Jones. Even if he wins the No. 3 job, Carter won't have a path to fantasy relevance as long as Atlanta's top two running backs remain on the field. |
|
Tua Tagovailoa Tua Tagovailoa Competing for starting role
Mon, Jul 13, 2026, 9:50 AM
Tagovailoa's former Dolphins teammate Patrick Paul believes Tagovailoa will win Atlanta's quarterback competition against Michael Penix (knee), Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.
Analysis: Both Atlanta QBs are learning the system of new coach Kevin Stefanski, and Tagovailoa has gotten a head start in that regard, as he worked with the first-team offense in spring practices while Penix was on the sidelines recovering from November surgery on a torn ACL. Penix believes he will be cleared to practice in training camp and be fully healthy by Week 1, per ESPN.com, but Tagovailoa's early edge makes the former Dolphins QB the favorite to start for the Falcons when they begin regular-season play Sunday, Sept. 13 at Pittsburgh. |
|
Green dot signals larger role
Fri, Jul 10, 2026, 11:37 AM
Deablo is set for expanded responsibilities on defense in the 2026 season, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Analysis: Deablo has inherited the green dot from departed linebacker Kaden Elliss. Those communication duties not only keep him central to Atlanta's defense, but also create a path to steadier snaps and tackle opportunities. The 27-year-old impressed while healthy in his inaugural campaign with the Falcons last year, totaling 73 tackles (38 solo), including 1.0 sacks, plus seven passes defensed and one fumble recovery across 13 regular-season games. With his expanded role, Deablo's value in IDP formats figures to grow in 2026. |
|
Jahan Dotson Jahan Dotson Poised to compete for starting role
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 10:22 PM
Dotson is set to compete for slotting in a "wide open" Atlanta wideout depth chart behind Drake London, Bobby Kownack of NFL.com reports.
Analysis: Dotson had some solid stretches early in his career with Washington, but his production dropped dramatically after he was traded to the Eagles ahead of the 2024 season. Of course, Philadelphia had the stud wideout duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith hogging most of Jalen Hurts' targets and consequently impeding Dotson's opportunities. Things are a bit different for the Penn State product after he signed with Atlanta in early March -- though London (undisclosed) is the team's clear alpha at wideout, the No. 2 slot in the WR pecking order is probably going to come down to whoever wins the competition between Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus and third-round rookie Zachariah Branch. With that said, the Falcons will also feature TE Kyle Pitts and RB Bijan Robinson as key components of their air game, so even if Dotson emerges with a starting role, he figures to be behind multiple players in terms of distribution of targets. |
|
Healthy for offseason program
Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 10:00 PM
Harrison (knee) participated in the Falcons' offseason program, Daniel Flick of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Analysis: Harrison was well on his way to a career year in 2025, as he recorded a career-high 4.5 sacks through the first seven games, but he suffered a knee injury in Week 7 against the 49ers and missed the remainder of the 2025 campaign. Now healthy, the Falcons are relying on Harrison to help key the pass rush alongside second-year edge defenders Jalon Walker and James Pearce. |
|
Kyle Pitts Sr. Kyle Pitts Sr. Agrees to three-year extension
Tue, Jun 23, 2026, 3:38 PM
Pitts and the Falcons agreed to terms Tuesday on a three-year, $54 million contract extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Atlanta extended Pitts a franchise tender earlier this offseason, but both sides have now agreed to terms on a multi-year deal that includes $36 million fully guaranteed. Per Schefter, Pitts' annual average salary makes him the third-highest paid tight end in the league behind George Kittle (Achilles) and Trey McBride. The Falcons also signed Drake London (undisclosed) to a massive four-year contract early June, while Bijan Robinson remains a candidate for a new deal after the team exercised his fifth-year option. Pitts managed an 88-928-5 line (118 targets) in 17 regular-season games last year and will look to build chemistry with quarterbacks Michael Penix (ACL) and Tua Tagovailoa this offseason en route to hopefully taking another step forward during the 2026 campaign. |
|
Juice Wells Jr. Antwane Wells Jr. Signs with Atlanta
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 10:09 PM
The Falcons signed Wells on Wednesday.
Analysis: Wells is in his second year out of Ole Miss but has yet to appear in a regular-season contest after spending last summer with the Giants followed by two weeks on the team's practice squad during October. |
|
Returns for minicamp
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 4:37 PM
Phillips (triceps/illness) was spotted participating in Tuesday's practice, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Analysis: The fourth-year corner from Utah missed Atlanta's final 13 games in 2025 due to a triceps issue, but it now appears he's moved past the injury. Phillips was one of the Falcons' top corners in 2024, recording 35 total tackles, five passes defensed, including one interception, and two forced fumbles across 16 regular-season appearances. Now fully healthy, he's expected to compete for a reserve role in the secondary as the offseason progresses. |
|
Back from knee injury
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 4:25 PM
Trice (knee) was spotted participating in Wednesday's practice, Will McFadden of BigNewsNetwork.com reports.
Analysis: Trice, a 2024 third-round pick from Washington, has yet to make his NFL debut due to a knee injury sustained during the 2024 preseason. However, he was spotted participating in the full 11-on-11 periods of practice, suggesting he's now moved past the issue. Expect Trice to compete for a reserve role in Atlanta's edge-rush corps ahead of the 2026 season. |
|
Signs with Atlanta
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 4:07 PM
The Falcons signed Wells on Wednesday, D. Orlando Ledbetter of Bowtie Sports reports.
Analysis: The 25-year-old wideout appeared in nine regular-season games with the Columbus Aviators of the UFL in 2026, catching 25 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Now with the Falcons, expect Wells to compete for a reserve role in the receiving corps as the offseason progresses. |
|
Finds work in Atlanta
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 3:54 PM
The Falcons signed Maxwell on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Maxwell is coming off a productive season with the DC Defenders of the UFL in 2026, posting 23 total tackles, including 4.0 sacks, across 10 regular-season games. Now in Atlanta, he's expected to compete for a reserve interior defensive lineman role. |
|
Trevor Siemian Trevor Siemian Back for training camp
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 3:41 PM
Siemian (undisclosed) won't practice Wednesday but will return for training camp, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: It appears as if Siemian avoided a serios injury, as the Northwestern product is now expected to return for training camp. The 34-year-old's last in-game action came with the Jets in 2023, when he appeared in five contests and threw for 724 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. Once fully healthy, he's expected to compete for Atlanta's emergency third quarterback position. |
|
Sitting out practice as precaution
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 1:46 PM
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday at mandatory minicamp that Watts (undisclosed) is not practicing due to a minor injury, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Stefanski declined to get into the specifics of Watts' injury, but he indicated that the team is simply being cautious with his health. The 2025 third-round pick emerged as a standout at safety as a rookie, suiting up for all 17 regular-season games and totaling 96 tackles (59 solo) and 11 passes defensed, including five interceptions. There are no indications that Watts' status for the start of training camp in July is of any concern. |
|
Drake London Drake London Nursing minor injury
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 10:17 AM
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday during mandatory minicamp that London (undisclosed) will not practice as a precaution, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Stefanski noted that London could have practiced if necessary, but that Atlanta is opting for caution after signing the star wideout to a four-year, $141 million extension earlier this month. The 2022 first-round pick remains the clear No. 1 target for a quarterback room that features a competition between Michael Penix (ACL) and Tua Tagovailoa for the starting role, so the team's priority is having London fully healthy for training camp in July. London dealt with a PCL sprain last season, but Stefanski called his current injury a "small" issue. |
|
Michael Penix Jr. Michael Penix Jr. Expects to take team reps at camp
Wed, Jun 17, 2026, 10:10 AM
Penix (ACL) said Tuesday at mandatory minicamp that "the expectation" is for him to participate in 11-on-11 drills during training camp, though he will first need to gain clearance from team doctors, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Analysis: Penix did not participate in full-team drills at mandatory minicamp, though he reportedly showed no signs of discomfort while taking 7-on-7 and individual reps as well as footwork drills with quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt. The 26-year-old signal-caller spoke positively about his recovery progress, saying "each and every day that I come out here, I feel better than the day before." Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Penix is "exactly where he needs to be." Once Penix is fully cleared, he will face a competition with Tua Tagovailoa for the Week 1 starting job. |
|
Tending to injuries
Tue, Jun 16, 2026, 7:58 PM
Per coach Kevin Stefanski, Taylor (elbow) is progressing in his rehab from the injuries he was nursing at the end of the 2025 season, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Taylor was sidelined for Kansas City's last five games of the 2025 campaign due to triceps and elbow injuries, and he's still not fully ready for football activities with the Falcons' minicamp underway. Until he's back in action, Wanya Morris projects as a candidate to work at right tackle with the first team. |
|
Michael Penix Jr. Michael Penix Jr. Still not ready for 11-on-11 drills
Tue, Jun 16, 2026, 2:15 PM
Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Penix (ACL) has not been cleared to participate in 11-on-11 team drills at mandatory minicamp, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Stefanski reiterated that Atlanta remains "very comfortable" with the rehab progress Penix has made in his recovery from a left ACL tear. Regarding the Falcons' quarterback competition between Penix and Tua Tagovailoa, Stefanski said "we're not giving out any jobs in June." By all accounts, Atlanta's true QB competition won't kick off until Penix has been cleared to suit up for full-team reps. That said, Stefanski declined to state whether he expects Penix to be cleared by the start of training camp in July. If Penix remains limited to individual drills at that point, Tagovailoa will have a tangible opportunity to build early momentum. |
|
Present for minicamp
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 12:03 PM
Pearce was present for his physical Monday prior to the Falcons' mandatory minicamp, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: The report notes that Pearce has entered a diversion program to resolve to his legal matter stemming from a Feb. 7 incident which included being charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy indicated to ESPN on Monday that Pearce's situation "remains under review of the (league's) personal conduct policy." As a rookie last year, Pearce -- who is expected to take the field during this week's minicamp -- recorded 26 tackles, including 10.5 sacks, in 17 regular-season games. |
|
Moves to reserve/PUP list
Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 7:58 PM
Norton (foot) was placed on the reserve/PUP list by the Falcons on Thursday, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: The offensive tackle missed the 2025 campaign due to a foot injury and appears to still be dealing with it. Norton returned from surgery last October and practiced for three weeks, but he was never activated from injured reserve. Atlanta has an opening at tackle after the retirement of Kaleb McGary, though former Chief Jawaan Taylor is expected to fill it. |
Connect With Us:
