:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61044125/usa_today_11131196.0.jpg)
Welcome to a new feature at The Falcoholic. We’re going to be bringing you a short recap of the previous day’s news each morning so you can stay on top of the latest and greatest about your favorite NFL team.
Week 3 of the preseason is a distant memory, and we’re on to Week 4. LOL, just kidding, everyone’s still mad that the Falcons lost to the Jaguars on Saturday, and we still have things to say about it.
The Falcoholic staff chimed in to talk about the things that stood out against the Jaguars.
Injury updates
Part of the reason the Falcons struggled against the Jaguars was the fact that they were missing multiple starters. Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman, Desmond Trufant, Deion Jones, Ricardo Allen, and Matt Bryant missed Saturday’s matchup. But there’s good news on that front. Trufant returned to practice on Monday, and Deion Jones is working through rehab, which is a good start.
Desmond Trufant practicing after sitting out Saturday. No sign of Deion Jones still coming off strain. pic.twitter.com/5GBoKLgeLO
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) August 27, 2018
But there was also some bad news.
#Falcons practice report: Levitre without helmet during open portion https://t.co/p2tmtygcvu
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) August 27, 2018
Lightning Led added that Marvin Hall, Ben Garland, and rising star Foye Oluokun also did not participate in practice on Monday.
There’s no specific update on Matt Bryant, but the Falcons did sign yet another kicker on Monday, Giorgio Tavecchio. He joins Bryant and David Marvin to round out what is currently probably the deepest kicker group in the NFL right now.
For what it’s worth, Dan Quinn isn’t worried about the team heading into the season, writes AtlantaFalcons.com’s Will McFadden. Neither is Matt Ryan, according to Jeff Schultz of the Athletic.
Position battles and roster cuts
Where do all of the Falcons’ position battles stand heading into this final week before real football actually returns? Dave Choate has the latest on the wideouts, fullback, swing tackle, right guard, defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker, and return specialist roles that are still up for grabs.
The Falcons will start paring down the roster on Friday to trim it to 53 players. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks 44 guys are locks to make it, leaving nine spots (and the practice squad) up for grabs.
My look at the #Falcons’ final 53-man roster --There are 44 players who are ‘locks’ to make the team. https://t.co/GcVsfrVTlW
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) August 27, 2018
Julio Jones is definitely good at football
Julio Jones didn’t put up flashy touchdown stats last season. But he manages to impact the game in the Falcons’ favor just by being on the field.
The Giants decided to give Odell Beckham Jr. the bag, signing the wide receiver to a five-year, $95 million deal that averages $19 million a year. That makes Beckham the league’s highest-paid wide receiver for now, and it’s going to have an impact on the Falcons this offseason.
We'll see how 25-year-old Odell Beckham Jr. becoming the NFL's highest-paid WR at $19 million per year affects Falcons star Julio Jones, who currently makes $14.25 million per year -- which is out of the top 10 among receivers at No. 11 -- but has been... https://t.co/L2Bfyx6sKX
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) August 27, 2018
My look at the #Falcons’ final 53-man roster --There are 44 players who are ‘locks’ to make the team. https://t.co/GcVsfrVTlW
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) August 27, 2018
Listen to us
You should check out the latest Falcoholic Postgame Podcast with Cory Woodroof and David Walker, also known around here as DW. DW and I were also joined by Carter Breazeale last week for a brand new episode of The Falcoholic podcast, if you’re into that sort of thing.