Falcoholinks: All the Falcons news you need for Friday, Aug. 20

The Falcons are in Miami for tomorrow’s game. I am not driving to it because that’s four hours from Orlando and also very hot. Falcoholinks for your Friday!

Dolphins on deck for Week 2 (of preseason)

The Falcons arrived in Miami earlier in the week for a series of joint practices with the Dolphins ahead of their preseason matchup on Saturday. While the first day was a clear success on the defensive side of the ball with Atlanta’s front bullying Miami’s O-line all afternoon, yesterday’s practice featured a “godawful” performance by backup QB AJ McCarron.

With McCarron struggling, is undrafted quarterback Feleipe Franks threatening to snag the backup spot from him? Miami may prove decisive.

But back to the Dolphins: What do we know about ‘em ahead of tomorrow’s preseason game? Well, they’re certainly a contender heading into the 2021 NFL season, with some key additions like wide receiver Will Fuller and center Matt Skura. Ah, and there’s rookie wideout Jaylen Waddle from Alabama.

It should be a fun one, for sure, even if defensive lineman Marlon Davidson is missing it.

...He’s evolving

Calvin Ridley’s route-running is ethereal. This has been established. His feet regularly defy physics, but the scariest thing about Atlanta’s newly-minted WR1 is that he hasn’t even peaked yet.

Entering his fourth season — and his first as the Falcons’ top receiving option — Ridley appears poised to take an even greater leap. How high that goes may also defy physics. It also will likely have him ranked higher on the NFL Network’s 2022 Top-100 list.

And immediately switching gears: could second-year corner A.J. Terrell make a similar jump? The reports from camp seem to suggest it.

Vaxxed

The Falcons are the first team in the NFL to report that all of their players are completely vaccinated against COVID-19, which is a great thing when you’re playing a contact sport amid a raging pandemic.

They also cut two fringe guys, who reportedly were the final two on the roster who were unvaccinated.

The team welcomed back a familiar face in DL Eli Ankou to fill one of the empty roster spots.

Watch the new Secret Base series

The folks over at Secret Base just dropped the first episode of their new series, “The History of the Atlanta Falcons,” and while that may seem like psychological flooding, it’s also pretty awesome. Our Jeanna Thomas has six reasons you should tune in — which our Falcoholic Live Team absolutely did.

Watch and listen to The Falcoholic

Our positional preview continued on The Falcoholic Podcast’s latest episode, and the crew at The Falcoholic Live previewed tomorrow’s game against the Dolphins on episode 153.

Greatest Moments Bracket

The Final Four is here. Which two moments will advance to the finals? Make your choice right here.