Who has the best chances at 53?
Given how many players the Falcons did not play in their second preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, they may already have a good idea of what their 53-man roster will look like. Even if that’s the case, deciding on the remaining roster spots will be very difficult.
Atlanta has some really tough positions to sort out as the Aug. 27 cut deadline quickly approaches. Tori McElhaney gave her initial thoughts on what the 53-man roster could look like last Tuesday, and she has a few surprises on the list. She then appeared on Falcons Final Whistle to defend her selection under intense scrutiny.
This was the first of three 53-man roster predictions that will be released before the August 27 deadline. The second prediction will be released Tuesday morning, and you can bet it will look a little different with the addition of Judon and Simmons.
Michael Penix Jr. has shown enough
Raheem Morris hasn’t exactly been shy about his belief that he doesn’t like playing in preseason games because of the risk of injury. Part of Morris’ excitement about training together in Miami was the opportunity to experience live competition while “mitigating” the risk of injury more than a preseason game. The injuries still happened, and Morris took them to heart.
“I definitely take full responsibility for when our guys get injured in preseason games,” he said before the team’s first practice after Miami. “And that definitely doesn’t change anything. It just further shows how I feel about preparation when it comes to things like this where you can’t mitigate injuries.”
So it was no surprise to see none of the offensive or defensive starters on the field Saturday afternoon in Baltimore. It did raise some eyebrows, however, that Penix was not on the field for the first offensive play. Morris said after the game that the team was pleased with what they saw from Penix in practice and in his first preseason game. He finished his debut completing 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Penix could eventually be the Falcons’ chosen successor to Cousins, but he’s already shown enough to be considered a good backup. That’s a valuable role in the NFL and one that Morris doesn’t want to risk unnecessarily.
Drake London and AJ Terrell stand out
The middle part of Atlanta’s week was defined by two core players for the 2024 season. On Wednesday, London stole the show, leading an impressive offensive attack. He was Cousins’ first choice and caught six of his seven passes in practice, including more than a few that likely would have resulted in touchdowns in live action.
London was fiery in practice, making spectacular plays and letting the defense know it. When he doesn’t catch the ball, he lets it show. On the other hand, Terrell has a calm and confident demeanor. He is rarely in a bad position and seems to be confident on every play in his repertoire.
Terrell made his first spectacular play of training camp the day the Falcons left for Miami. In the final session at the team’s practice facility, Terrell read a long ball from Cousins to Darnell Mooney, taking advantage of a miscommunication between quarterback and receiver. Then on Thursday, he helped the defense get back on its feet after London’s outburst. This time, Terrell intercepted Penix, jumped on OJ Hiliare’s run and snatched the ball.
London and Terrell will be key players for Atlanta this fall, and as the season approaches, they both seem to be in a stronger position.
