The Atlanta Falcons held their eighth training camp practice indoors on Tuesday due to inclement weather, resulting in the session being closed to fans but open to media. The team practiced at its facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, with visibility inside the indoor practice area described as challenging.
Head coach Raheem Morris did not address reporters before practice and is expected to speak Wednesday ahead of the first full-team scrimmage.
Wide receiver Drake London stood out during 11-on-11 drills, catching all five passes thrown his way, making him the most targeted player among the first team.
Running back Bijan Robinson commented on linebacker Kaden Elliss’s impact on the defense: “Kaden Elliss. That’s their alpha. He drives the energy. Obviously, they all do. But when Kaden is on and he’s bringing the energy, they’re different. They’re a different defense. And good thing for them: He brings it every single day.”
The music playing during practice included “Po’ Me Up Some Mo” by F.P.J., with tight end Feleipe Franks seen dancing along with teammates.
Several players were absent or limited: wide receiver Darnell Mooney (expected absence), cornerback Keith Taylor (unknown reason), inside linebacker Malik Verdon (Non-Football Injury list), inside linebacker Troy Andersen (Physically Unable to Perform list), and offensive lineman Storm Norton (unknown reason).
One-on-one matchups between wide receivers and defensive backs took place in full pads for the first time this camp, featuring competitive play in red zone situations. Wide receiver Nick Nash made a notable one-handed catch against cornerback Dee Alford.
Safety Xavier Watts and edge rusher Jalon Walker participated in position drills but did not join 11-on-11 work as part of a preventative maintenance plan previously mentioned by Coach Morris. Inside linebacker JD Bertrand wore a yellow non-contact jersey; his limited participation aligns with that of Watts and Walker as a precautionary measure.
Cornerback Clark Phillips III had a brief injury scare after colliding with inside linebacker Josh Woods but remained in practice without significant interruption.
On the offensive line, Jack Nelson filled in at right tackle for Storm Norton with Brandon Parker taking reps at left tackle for the first team. Elijah Wilkinson played right tackle for the second unit. Regular starters Kaleb McGary and Jake Matthews were likely resting.
Quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins each completed 13 passes during 11-on-11 drills—Penix going 13-of-18 and Cousins 13-of-17—though indoor conditions made observation difficult. Easton Stick and Emory Jones each completed their only pass attempts of the session. Coach Morris stated earlier that neither Penix nor Cousins will play in Friday’s preseason game against Detroit; Stick and Jones are expected to share playing time instead.
Casey Washington continued to see meaningful snaps with the first-team offense alongside London, making a notable contested catch from Penix against double coverage and displaying speed during special teams work.
Defensively, three interceptions were recorded: cornerback Mike Ford Jr., safety DeMarcco Hellams, and safety Josh Thompson each collected one pick during practice sessions.
The Falcons’ next scheduled open practice is Wednesday at IBM Performance Field. Weather forecasts indicate only a 24% chance of rain in the morning according to The Weather Channel, which may allow for an outdoor scrimmage.
The team’s regular season opener against Tampa Bay is set for September 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
