Falcons training camp is already raising concerns. This week's Falcons Roundtable breaks down Tua Tagovailoa's injury, the evolving secondary, Jawaan Taylor landing on the PUP list and the biggest questions facing Atlanta before Week 1.
Training camp is here for the Atlanta Falcons, and there are already some storylines that could drastically impact the season. With injury news and position battles, new head coach Kevin Stefanski is going to have his hands full as he works to get them back into the postseason for the first time since 2017.
On this week's Falcons Roundtable, the staff discusses some of the top stories from the past week.
How concerned are you regarding the QB room following the injury news to Tua?
Michael Brauner: It sounds like Tua is going to be fine, but not to be concerned at all would be foolish. Michael Penix is seemingly still weeks away from being fully cleared, and Tagovailoa needs to get those reps in. Either way, the situation does not feel like a good one in Atlanta this season right now.
Christian Rauh: Maybe not the injury itself since it doesn't seem serious, but there is definitely a trend that needs to be squashed before it gets out of hand. The team is dealing with too many issues, whether it's injuries or off-the-field things, and it could easily distract them. This needs to be fixed quickly.
What is the biggest surprise you have seen out of camp so far?
MB: It's still early, but it is a bit of a surprise to see Bijan Robinson not fully practicing. Through all the quarterback news, it's easy to forget about his contract, but hopefully something can get done soon.
CR: The secondary is going to be one of the most fascinating battles this fall for the Falcons, and it looks like it's already taking shape. There was plenty of rotation with the first-team already, as Clark Phillips and CJ Henderson found a good amount on the outside at corner and Darnay Holmes saw some good action at the slot.
Besides the QB battle, what's the most concerning news from the Falcons camp?
MB: The lack of news on James Pearce Jr. is extremely concerning. In all likelihood, he will be suspended, but knowing how long he will be out could change things drastically for this front office. If the suspension is lengthy, Atlanta may need to go get some pass-rushing help.
CR: The news of starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor landing on the PUP list to begin training camp is super concerning. Although there are discussions that he will be ready by Week 1, he is missing out on the build-up phase, which includes a new offense under his new head coach. This is a bigger concern than we realized.
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