The ultimate recreation of the 2026 preseason kicks off tomorrow evening, and when it’s over, all that lies forward is the primary season of Falcons soccer for Kevin Stefanski, Ian Cunningham, and the host of latest gamers they’ve introduced in.
We’re practically there, however there’s this one tune-up to clear first. Right here’s what you want to learn about tomorrow evening.
Roster battles to observe
QB3
I firmly imagine the workforce is both going to discover a solution to preserve each gamers or maintain on to Strand, who has regarded too good for an assured spot on the Falcons follow squad given how quarterback-starved groups throughout the league are. Perhaps that goes out the window if Strand craters this week.
RB3
It’s Tyler Goodson’s job. He was the very best again on the sphere in Week 2 of preseason and has appreciable particular groups worth, so this one is wrapped up.
WR5/6
Chris Blair and Dylan Drummond had been talked about as two receivers having superb summers by offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, and so they each can play particular groups and have expertise. Vinny Anthony may have one ultimate shot to make his case for a roster spot as a substitute of a follow squad slot, however we’re not but positive whether or not the Falcons will preserve 5 – 6 receivers to start with.
C2
Perhaps James Brockermeyer will get sniped off the follow squad as a result of he was well-regarded popping out of faculty, however he hasn’t been spectacular sufficient this summer time for that to look extremely probably. Corey Levin has performed guard and heart and is aware of Invoice Callahan, in order I preserve repeating, the job appears to be his.
ILB2
I believe it’s Kendal Daniels. Christian Harris solely made it into the sport very late, working behind JD Bertrand, and will not even be a lock for this roster. Daniels, in the meantime, has been sporting the inexperienced dot and searching spectacular in preseason motion and practices, and figures to be lined up subsequent to Divine Deablo in Week 1.
CB2/3
Avieon Terrell is again practising, however he most likely has an excessive amount of floor to make up forward of Week 1. With Billy Bowman Jr. nonetheless out, Mike Hughes is your starter reverse A.J. Terrell and Darnay Holmes ought to begin within the nickel firstly of the season. I count on Avieon Terrell to be a starter by the top of the yr, although.
What’s new with the Dolphins?
Nearly the whole lot, and virtually the whole lot factors towards them being one of many very worst groups within the NFL.
They’ve a brand new common supervisor in Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach in Jeff Hafley, with each males hopping over from Inexperienced Bay. They traded away franchise cornerstone Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos and Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Jets, changed Tua Tagovailoa with Malik Willis, and pulled the Falcons 2021 memorial free company interval out of their hat, signing about 15 guys to one-year offers with none of them exceeding $1.5 million. With a deep draft class, they snagged sort out Kadyn Proctor out of Alabama and cornerback Chris Johnson out of San Diego State within the first spherical and grabbed linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and Kyle Louis (two Falcoholic draft favorites) and highly-regarded receivers Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell.
The muse for the following high quality Dolphins workforce is partially poured, however proper now I might not put quite a lot of folding chairs on it, a lot much less a home. Miami has an extended highway again to relevance, one that can begin with picks like Proctor, Johnson, Bell, and Rodriguez hitting.
What to learn about Friday
We’ll get a short take a look at the starters, together with Tua Tagovailoa (who’s QB1 for now and nonetheless, I believe, probably for Week 1) after which the backup brigade of their ultimate alternative to compete for roles and roster spots. We’ll probably see Cooper Rush for a few quarter and Jack Strand for the remainder of the sport, in the event you’re carefully monitoring the QB3 battle.
After they rocked the Colts reserves every week in the past, I’ll be trying to see how the Falcons starters and reserves fare towards a Miami workforce that has a official argument proper out of the gate because the league’s workforce. We’re not going to overcorrect and begin panicking in the event that they scuffle a bit, however I might not view it as an amazing signal if two groups at their most vanilla look pretty even when a type of groups has a roster as decimated because the Dolphins do.
Following the sport, the Falcons can be making cuts over the following couple of days to get compliant with the Sunday night deadline for a 53 man roster, after which will populate their follow squad. So much goes to occur within the subsequent few days, so hopefully you’re locked and loaded by way of sleep and caffeine.
Tell us what you’ll be on the lookout for tomorrow!