Falcons will hold joint practices with Dolphins on Aug. 18-19

We knew the Falcons would be holding joint practices with the Miami Dolphins this summer and we presumed it would be happening in the run-up to the preseason game between the two, but now we have confirmed dates. That’s hopefully a precursor to a full release of the training camp schedule for Atlanta, but either way it’s good information to have.

There will be two days of joint practices, per NFL insider Adam Caplan.

As Scott Bair at AtlantaFalcons.com wrote, practicing with a talented team like Miami should be at least a small lift for a new coaching staff and re-tooled roster that will be trying to find its way back to success in 2021. Miami is a rising team in a division with a Patriots squad that wasn’t customarily dominant a year ago and a Bills team that appears poised to make runs for the AFC East crown for years to come, and they’re also a young team with a defensive-minded head coach. As always, seeing different players than your own teammates in practice and giving the coaching staff wrinkles to evaluate is a positive, even if there’s always a risk of a brawl in the summer heat.

The August calendar is slowly being filled in, as we also know there will be a practice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August that will be open to the public. Now we’re just waiting for the full schedule, and waiting period for the long layoff between OTAs and training camp to end.