The Falcons' third full-team practice open to media featured a noticeably lighter workload.
Terrin Waack
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Although the Atlanta Falcons held their first mandatory minicamp practice Tuesday, the on-field workload was rather light.
Head coach Raheem Morris provided a little disclaimer before practice the third full-team session open to media this offseason stating that would be the case, and he wasn't exaggerating.
"We're not doing much different than what you guys have seen," Morris said. "We're actually pulling back a little more."
The Falcons had what Morris described as a "big-time jog-through" before practice opened to the media. Then, there were about 45 minutes of viewing time in which the team stretched, ran individual drills and closed with 11-on-11 work.
The 11-on-11 work, however, solely involved "developmental guys," another Morris descriptor. That means neither starter Michael Penix Jr., nor backup Kirk Cousins took snaps at that quarterback position. Because yes,Cousins was present at practice for the first time this offseason.
Instead, Emory Jones lined up behind center and went up against a defense that at one point early on includedthree draft picks(defensive back Billy Bowman Jr., along with edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.), three returning players (safety DeMarcco Hellams, who's coming back from an injury, outside linebacker DeAngelo Malone, who primarily played special teams, and cornerback Natrone Brooks, who was mainly on the practice squad), two tryout players (cornerback Michael Davis and defensive lineman Kevin Hester) and two signed free agents (safety Josh Thompsonandlinebacker Caleb Johnson) andan undrafted free agent(defensive lineman Simeon Barrow Jr.).
Of course, there was still a fair bit of rotation. For example, cornerback Lamar Jackson, inside linebacker Josh Woods and outside linebacker Khalid Kareem were in the mix.
It wouldn't be surprising if Wednesday's practice follows a similar cadence.
"Really excited about where we're at in our offseason," Morris said.
Other notes and observations:
Attendance: Morris said before practice that everyone on the 90-man roster besides defensive lineman Morgan Fox was present at the facility Tuesday. Fox's absence was excused due to a personal matter.
Just because players were at the facility, though, didn't mean they were active participants in practice duringmy personal roll call.
Not seen at practice were wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge, tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., cornerback Kevin King, inside linebacker Troy Andersen, outside linebacker Bralen Trice, offensive lineman Kaleb McGary, defensive lineman David Onyemata and, of course, Fox.
Injury update: McGary, the presumed starting right tackle, was also noticeably missing from the Falcons' two open OTA practices. Turns out, he is dealing with an undisclosed injury. Morris said the Falcons are taking the same approach with McGary thatthey are with Pitts.
"Extreme caution with everything that we're doing," Morris said. "We feel really good about where he is and feel really good about where we're going."
Guest appearance: Falcons team owner Arthur Blank was spotted driving around Tuesday's practice in his golf cart. He sat watching the quarterbacks throw to the wide receivers for a good bit with Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot.
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