What To Know During The Atlanta Falcons Five-Week Break From Offseason Program Wrapping Up

What To Know During The Atlanta Falcons Five-Week Break From Offseason Program Wrapping Up originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Atlanta Falcons have wrapped up the team's offseason program and will have a five-week break before the start of training camp.
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The offseason program isn't necessarily exciting, but it does give insight into the new arrivals on the field. This time is mainly used for individual drills, getting the brand new rookies acclimated to the practice times, when to eat, where to go to treatment, etc.
The practices are more like glorified walkthroughs and do not provide much coverage information. The offense is set in stone, but with the overhaul that the defensive side of the football has seen, questions will remain about who will get the starting nod on defense at a couple of positions.
Atlanta Falcons rookie Jalon Walker is shown during mini-camp in Flowery Branch. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Kirk Cousins did attend the three-day mandatory mini-camp and would speak to the media on day two. Cousins is a professional and did not slander anyone about the position that he is currently in. Instead, he chose the high road and stated that he had accepted his fate for now, and that, in February, he hoped to hold up a Lombardi Trophy.
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He also stated that he would be there for Michael Penix Jr. as needed, but didn't want to be another voice in his ear while Penix Jr. tries to adapt to being the starter full-time. As it stands, Cousins doesn't have another option right now unless a team has a quarterback go down in camp and is desperate for a veteran quarterback. Retirement is an option, but Cousins feels he has plenty left in the tank.
Atlanta has a tough five-week stretch to start the season, with four playoff teams last season. If Penix Jr. struggles, Cousins will be handed the reins.
The only position battles during training camp mostly concern rookies and who will start and/or split time at certain positions. This will include a name like Cobee Bryant, who was signed as an UDFA, and whether he makes the team or not. If so, he will also require playing time. Three of the team's draft picks will start immediately.
Those names include Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr., Xavier Watts, and Billy Bowman. Bowman and Watts may battle it out for playing time, but it looks as if both Walker and Pearce Jr. will be coming off the edge in week one.
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Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has a tall task: assembling a more aggressive defense than in years past. New arrivals such as veterans Divine Deablo and Leonard Floyd will also be names to watch in camp, who will want to contribute immediately being a starter. For Ulbrich, it is a necessary evil to have to pick and choose who has earned playing time, but it is a great problem to have on the flip side with the amount of depth the team has acquired.
Related: Character Validation Underway For James Pearce Jr. In Atlanta
Related: At What Point Would Atlanta Consider Going Back To Cousins If Penix Jr. Struggles?
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.

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