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Easton Stick Easton Stick Set for significant action Friday
Mon, Aug 4, 2025, 10:17 AM
Stick and Emory Jones will split quarterback duties in Friday's preseason opener against the Lions while Michael Penix and Kirk Cousins will be rested, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Analysis: Stick will presumably get the starting nod, as the former Chargers quarterback has four regular-season NFL starts under his belt, while Jones hasn't appeared in a regular-season NFL game. Unless one of Atlanta's top two quarterbacks gets injured or Cousins is moved off the roster, Stick and Jones will be competing for the third spot on the team's quarterback depth chart. |
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Kirk Cousins Kirk Cousins Won't play Friday night
Mon, Aug 4, 2025, 8:24 AM
Cousins won't play in Friday's preseason game against Detroit, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Neither will starter Michael Penix, leaving Easton Stick and Emory Jones as Atlanta's quarterbacks. Cousins, meanwhile, presumably still wants to be traded to a team that will give him a chance to start, but he's practicing with the Falcons' backups in the meantime. |
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Michael Penix Michael Penix Won't play Friday
Mon, Aug 4, 2025, 8:22 AM
Penix and Kirk Cousins won't play in Friday's preseason game against Detroit, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Falcons coach Raheem Morris made the announcement Monday morning, saying he wants to focus on the lower portion of the depth chart in the first preseason games. Easton Stick and Emory Jones will be Atlanta's quarterbacks Friday night, while Penix and the starters might make an appearance later this preseason. |
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Darnell Mooney Darnell Mooney Status for Week 1 uncertain
Tue, Jul 29, 2025, 6:49 PM
Speaking Tuesday, coach Raheem Morris was non-committal on whether or not Mooney (shoulder) will be ready for the Falcons' Week 1 matchup with the Bucs, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Mooney suffered a shoulder injury in practice last Thursday and is expected to be sidelined for a "few weeks," Raimondi reported last week. The nature of Mooney's injury still isn't clear, but there's at least some concern that he won't be ready for the start of the regular season. KhaDarel Hodge is next up on the depth chart behind Drake London and slot man Ray-Ray McCloud should Mooney not be cleared in time to face Tampa Bay. |
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Darnell Mooney Darnell Mooney Hurts shoulder, out multiple weeks
Fri, Jul 25, 2025, 8:33 PM
Mooney is dealing with a shoulder injury and will be out "a few weeks," Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Mooney had to leave the field with a trainer Thursday after hurting his shoulder while trying to make a diving catch during practice. The injury certainly puts the veteran wideout's status in doubt for the Falcons' first preseason game, which will take place Aug. 8 versus Detroit, and could also impact his availability for the remainder of the preseason slate and even potentially into Week 1 of the campaign. Atlanta signed veteran receiver DJ Chark on Friday to add depth to its wideout corps in the wake of Mooney's injury. |
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DJ Chark DJ Chark Moving to ATL
Fri, Jul 25, 2025, 3:58 PM
The Falcons agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Chark on Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Chark had a tryout with the Bears on Monday and then met with the Falcons to cap the week before finding his next home. In his only season with the Chargers in 2024, he was beset by injuries and made just eight appearances, including a wild-card loss at Houston, en route to five catches (on 14 targets) for 41 yards and one touchdown. The 28-year-old likely will be vying with Casey Washington, Jamal Agnew and Chris Blair, among others, for one of Atlanta's final WR spots as training camp and the preseason proceed. |
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Kyle Pitts Kyle Pitts Praised by Penix after big day
Thu, Jul 24, 2025, 12:12 PM
Falcons QB Michael Penix said Thursday that he plans to throw a lot of passes to Pitts (foot) this year, Justin Felder of FOX 5 Sports Atlanta reports.
Analysis: Earlier in the day, Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Pitts was medically cleared for training camp but might have "modifications" to his practice plan after missing spring practices with a foot injury. Pitts then went out and made a bunch of big plays during the first practice of camp, prompting Penix to tell reporters there's "gonna be a lot of that" this year. It's a good sign for their chemistry, perhaps, after Pitts got just 10 targets in Penix's three starts last season, thus closing out the year with six or fewer targets in each of Atlanta's last 10 games. William McFadden of the Falcons' official site notes that Pitts mostly worked with the wide receivers (rather than tight ends) during position drills Thursday. |
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Darnell Mooney Darnell Mooney Leaves practice early
Thu, Jul 24, 2025, 11:37 AM
Mooney left Thursday's practice with a trainer after attempting a diving catch, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The possible injury happened toward the end of practice, without any update from the team afterward. Mooney was healthy for spring practices and then the start of training camp, after a shoulder injury cost him Week 18 of last season (his only absence of the year). His finished his first season in Atlanta with career highs for TDs (five), yards per catch (15.5) and yards per target (9.4), along with his second-highest totals for targets (106), catches (64) and receiving yards (992). The Falcons have shaky WR depth behind Mooney and Drake London, with Ray-Ray McCloud and KhaDarel Hodge returning as the probable Nos. 3 and 4 receivers. |
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Kyle Pitts Kyle Pitts Medically claeared for camp
Thu, Jul 24, 2025, 8:19 AM
Pitts (foot) is medically cleared for training camp, although Falcons coach Raheem Morris said the tight end may have "modifications" to his practice plan early on, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Pitts was present for Atlanta's offseason program but didn't practice, with reports suggesting a foot injury was responsible for his lack of activity. It sounds like he'll have plenty of time to ramp up for Week 1 as he prepares for the fifth and final season of his rookie contract, subject to the lowest expectations of his career after failing to break out (again) in 2024 under a new coaching staff. |
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Bijan Robinson Bijan Robinson Wants to create more big plays
Tue, Jul 22, 2025, 3:01 PM
Robinson recently said one of his goals this season is to create more explosive runs, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Analysis: Robinson averaged an impressive 4.8 yards per carry last season, but he produced just one run of longer than 30 yards. According to Ledbetter, 31 players had multiple runs of 30-plus yards last season, and seven different players had five or more. Robinson had just 12 of his 304 carries produce 15-plus yards, as he was one of the running backs least reliant on big plays. He wants to change that headed into his third season. Robinson is a consensus top-five fantasy pick headed into training camp. |
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Michael Penix Michael Penix Locked in as QB1
Tue, Jul 22, 2025, 11:22 AM
Penix heads into training camp as Atlanta's undisputed starting quarterback, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Analysis: Kirk Cousins presumably still wants to be traded, but that didn't stop him from attending spring practices and likely won't keep him out of training camp. The veteran is taking second-team reps now, after the Falcons averaged 32 points per game in Penix's three starts at the end of last season. Bijan Robinson scored two TDs in each of the three games, and Drake London had 352 yards and two TDs on 39 targets. Apart from the QB change and Ryan Neuzil replacing Drew Dalman at center, Atlanta's starting offense looks much the same as it did last summer. All of the team's projected 2025 starters were in Atlanta last offseason when offensive coordinator Zac Robinson installed his scheme. |
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Jashaun Corbin Jashaun Corbin Gets chance with Falcons
Tue, Jun 17, 2025, 3:40 PM
Atlanta signed Corbin (undisclosed) to a contract Tuesday, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Corbin spent time with the Giants last offseason but was waived/injured ahead of Week 1. He then resurfaced with the San Antonio Brahmas and led the UFL in rushing yards during the 2025 season. Back in 2023, in the NFL, he handled a reserve role for New York and logged six regular-season appearances. The Falcons waived Jase McClellan (knee) in a corresponding move. |
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Kirk Cousins Kirk Cousins Will attend mandatory minicamp
Mon, Jun 9, 2025, 12:45 PM
Cousins is slated to attend the Falcons' mandatory minicamp Tuesday and Wednesday. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Cousins attended Atlanta's voluntary workouts in April but not voluntary OTAs in late May and early June. The veteran quarterback has expressed his desire to be traded to a team where he could compete to start, rather than work as the backup to Michael Penix. The Browns, Steelers and Vikings had been named as potential suitors for Cousins this offseason, but Cleveland has since added rookie draft picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, while Pittsburgh's long-awaited one-year deal with Aaron Rodgers finally has materialized. Cousins is now heading into his age-37 season, carrying a cumbersome contract and fresh off a 2024 campaign in which he visibly petered out down the stretch before being benched. Unless a path to a starting gig elsewhere and trade somehow comes to pass, for fantasy purposes Cousins looks like a mere late-round stash in formats that start multiple QBs. |
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Kyle Pitts Kyle Pitts Falcons being cautious
Mon, Jun 2, 2025, 11:41 AM
Head coach Raheem Morris said Monday the team is being "extremely cautious" with Pitts (foot) and that the tight end won't be seen at OTAs but has "been in every single meeting" and "been in every single thing that we've done other than the field," Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Morris declined to specify the nature of Pitts' current injury, but reports amid his absence from OTAs last week linked the 2021 first-round pick to a foot issue, per Kyle Crabbs of AtoZ Sports. Around the same time, multiple NFL sources floated rumors naming Pitts a possible trade candidate, per Matt Urben of USA Today. Pitts is currently heading into the final season of his rookie deal due to Atlanta's decision to pick up his $10.88 million fifth-year option, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said he's expecting the tight end "to take a big jump in Year 2 of the system" in 2025. He scored a career-high four touchdowns in 2024 but had just 47 catches for 602 yards, a step down from his 53 grabs for 667 yards in 2023 and a far cry from his 1,026-yard rookie campaign. |
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Kyle Pitts Kyle Pitts Nursing foot injury
Wed, May 28, 2025, 1:49 PM
Pitts (foot) is present for OTAs on Wednesday but is not participating in on-field activities due to an injury, Kyle Crabbs of AtoZ Sports reports.
Analysis: Pitts' absence from the start of OTAs on Tuesday, as well as Wednesday's session, was speculated to be contract-related, but the 24-year-old tight end is simply dealing with a foot issue preventing him from taking part in on-field drills. The Falcons exercised the $10.88 million fifth-year option on Pitts' rookie contract last April, so he enters the 2025 season staring down a contract year. The Florida product has largely disappointed since racking up 1,026 receiving yards as a rookie in 2021, having battled injuries in 2022 then tallied receiving lines of just 53-667-3 in 2023 and 47-602-4 in 2024, though he has now suited up for all 17 games in back-to-back seasons. In three games with Michael Penix under center last year Pitts combined for just seven catches for 66 yards and one touchdown, so it seems crucial that he returns to full health sooner than later and can begin establishing a rapport with the second-year quarterback. |
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Darnell Mooney Darnell Mooney Full go at team OTAs
Tue, May 27, 2025, 6:13 PM
Mooney (shoulder) was an active participant at Day 1 of the Falcons' OTAs Tuesday, Terrin Waack of Atlanta's official team website reports.
Analysis: Mooney is coming off of a 2024 campaign with Atlanta in which he caught 64 of 106 targets for 992 yards and five touchdowns over 16 contests. The wide receiver missed the team's regular-season finale versus the Panthers with a shoulder injury, but he now appears to be fully healthy ahead of 2025. Mooney will likely operate as the Falcons' No. 2 option at wide receiver alongside Drake London this season as Michael Penix officially takes the reigns at quarterback. |
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Drake London Drake London Getting fifth-year option
Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 9:46 AM
The Falcons are exercising their fifth-year option on London's rookie contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The eighth overall pick from the 2022 Draft is now under contract through 2026, although it may not be long before he signs an extension that locks him in beyond that. London had career highs in every major counting stat last year, including 41 more targets (158) and 366 more yards (1,271) than his previous personal bests. He had just three 100-yard performances, but two of those came in the final two games after Michael Penix took over as Atlanta's starting QB. There should be plenty of volume for London again in 2025, after the Falcons focused on their defense this offseason and failed to acquire any significant competition for targets or carries. |
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Kirk Cousins Kirk Cousins Suitors may include Vikings?
Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 8:52 AM
The Browns, Steelers and Vikings may be interested in acquiring Cousins, whose contract includes a no-trade clause, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The contract also has a guaranteed $27.5 million salary for 2025, plus a guaranteed $10 million roster bonus in 2026. Cousins somewhat unexpectedly showed up for the start of Atlanta's voluntary OTAs this week, but he still seems to be hoping for a trade that would put him in a starting role -- preferably without competition from an early draft pick at the position. Pittsburgh would seem to be the cleanest fit, if Aaron Rodgers doesn't end up signing there and the Steelers don't use an early pick on a QB later this week. Falcons GM Terry Fontenot responded to some of the rumors and reports Wednesday, saying it's "not accurate" that the team has asked potential trade partners to take on at least $20 million of Cousins' salary, per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. |
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Kirk Cousins Kirk Cousins Shows up for voluntary workouts
Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 1:11 PM
Cousins is present for the start of Atlanta's voluntary OTAs on Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Cousins' attendance at voluntary OTAs is something of a surprise, after his having been benched Week 16 of last season in favor of 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix, who is slated to kick off the 2025 campaign under center. Atlanta could have released Cousins in mid-March to avoid having his $10 million guaranteed roster bonus kick in, but the team opted to keep the veteran quarterback in house as a backup option or trade candidate. However, Cousins' contract includes a no trade-clause which he seems unlikely to waive unless the chance to inherit a starting role elsewhere materializes. |
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Easton Stick Easton Stick Inked by Atlanta
Mon, Apr 21, 2025, 4:05 PM
The Falcons signed Stick on Monday.
Analysis: Stick is a 2019 fifth-round pick who spent the entirety of his NFL career before now with the Chargers. He suited up for five games (four starts) in 2023, completing 63.8 percent of his passes for 1,129 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, but didn't log any regular-season action in 2024. Kirk Cousins currently remains on Atlanta's roster as the backup to Michael Penix, but if the veteran quarterback ultimately does waive his no-trade clause for a chance to compete elsewhere, Stick could get an opportunity to step into the No. 2 role. |
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