The Atlanta Falcons just finished the fourth practice on their 2019 training camp schedule.
Here are 10 things we have learned from the team and media so far.
1. Julio Jones is getting closer to returning
Atlanta’s best player is expected to sign a long-term contract extension any day now that will appropriately make him the highest paid wide receiver in the league.
At the moment, Jones is taking it very easy at camp and is not participating in team drills at all. Today was the first time the media got to see him running an actual route and it was without pads on.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that timeline is correct. Jones is expected to be a full participant in the next 10 days to two weeks.
2. Devonta Freeman is running like himself again
While Julio is still working his way back to 100 percent, another key Falcons play-maker looks to be back to his old self.
Starting running back Devonta Freeman has drawn good reviews for his work throughout the offseason program. He’s gotten back to his decisive and explosive style of running that made him a two-time Pro Bowler.
When Freeman was healthy from 2015-2016, he was as productive as any running back in the league.
If he continues to play strong into the regular season, Atlanta’s running game should see a massive improvement.
3. The right guard job is Chris Lindstrom’s to lose
Rookies usually have to earn their playing time. Sometimes, they’re such a clear favorite at their position that it’s silly not to start them right away.
That appears to be the case for Atlanta’s first draft pick of 2019. Lindstrom has been getting all the first-team reps at right guard and the job appears to be his to lose.
Unless Lindstrom suffers an injury between now and Week 1, he should be penciled in as the starter. If he does, either Jamon Brown or James Carpenter would likely replace him.
4. The left guard competition has no favorite yet
While right guard seems settled, the opposite is the case on the other side of Alex Mack. Brown and Carpenter are locked in a competition to see who starts at left guard and there doesn’t appear to be a favorite yet.
ESPN reports that they are rotating first-team reps day to day.
Carpenter has more experience in general and particularly in the zone blocking kind of scheme the Falcons run. Brown is four years younger and has more upside, though.
For what it’s worth, Brown ran with the starters today.
5. Mohamed Sanu is making plays
Every summer it seems Sanu is responsible for an inordinate number of highlight reel worthy plays.
Sanu has continued his streak of offseason dominance into 2019. So far, he’s made more big plays than anyone based on the clips coming out of practice. Here’s a few of his best, including a couple one-handed catches.
Sanu recently tweeted a message that may suggest the team asked him to take a pay cut. It’s possible they see him as expendable given all their talent at wide receiver, but he’s still an extremely valuable piece.
6. Calvin Ridley tweaked his hamstring
Even having the deepest receiver corps in the league can’t save you from injuries, though. Last year’s first-round pick suffered a minor injury at today’s practice, with Ridley tweaking his right hamstring, per the AJC.
Ridley was later seen trying to run it off.
It does not appear to be serious. After practice, coach Dan Quinn told reporters that Ridley should be ready to go for the next block of practices, which begins Saturday.
7. Defensive injuries are already piling up
While it wouldn’t be ideal, the Falcons can probably afford an injury or two on offense to anybody except Matt Ryan without much of a dropoff. The same isn’t true for the other side of the ball, though.
Last year, serious injuries to several key defensive players effectively derailed Atlanta’s playoff hopes. This year, it looks like more of the same may be in the cards. A few important backups have already been injured this offseason.
So far, defensive tackle Michael Bennett has broken his ankle and is out indefinitely, safety J.J. Wilcox tore his ACL and is out for the season and so is defensive end Steven Means with an Achilles tear.
8. Kemal Ishmael’s value on display
One guy who will help keep the defense glued together no matter what happens is safety/linebacker Kemal Ishmael.
With Wilcox done for the year, Ishmael’s been asked to resume his old role as a strong safety. He will likely serve as Keanu Neal’s primary backup at that spot.
ESPN reports Ishmael will play safety 75 percent of the time and linebacker 25 percent.
Ishmael is also a critical special teams player. He led the Falcons in special teams snaps last year by a wide margin.
9. Two candidates emerge at punt returner
Speaking of special teams, the Falcons are in need of an upgrade at the returner positions.
Justin Hardy didn’t do much as a punt returner last season, posting just 147 yards on 20 attempts. This year, Hardy does not appear to be part of that competition. Instead, sixth-round pick Marcus Green and veteran running back/return specialist Kenjon Barner are mixing it up.
Barner has plus athleticism and a lot of return experience, but it’s going to be hard for him to beat out Green, who was perhaps the best returner in college football the last couple of years.
10. John Cominsky could see real playing time
Finally, Atlanta’s defense could get a significant boost from one of its promising young rookies. Fourth-round pick John Cominsky is our favorite sleeper of this draft class and he appears to be living up to the hype so far.
Comsinky has gotten some reps with the defensive line starters and has flashed a couple of times.
The Falcons will likely use Cominsky the same way as Jack Crawford and Allen Bailey, lining him up inside and outside depending on the situation.
