FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Wide receiver Michael Jenkins looks forward to the first preseason game of 2008 but not for the reason you may expect.
Sure, he's ready to play some football. But he's also ready to get a good look at the team's rookies.
"It's a chance to just to have fun playing football again," he said. "We get to see the rookies in their first NFL game. Even though it's preseason you still want to win every game you play. You want to watch and see how well those guys do because they're going to help our ball club."
Jenkins, who is running with the first team offense, is particularly interested in seeing rookie wide receiver Harry Douglas. Douglas made headlines earlier in camp after a scrap with veteran safety Lawyer Milloy but he's also making a routine of beating defensive backs in team and one-on-one drills.
"I think he's going to do a good job," Jenkins said. "He's been practicing his butt off."
Jenkins is also pleased with the wide receivers as a whole.
"Everybody is working hard and gelling together and just ready to go against somebody else," he said.
The five-year veteran has worked at most receiver slots during Russell Falcons Training Camp saying the more he can do the more he can help the team. At each he's proven to be a reliable target. Jenkins finished second on the team with 53 catches for 532 yards and four touchdowns last season.
"It's always better to learn all the positions at wide receiver because you never know what could happen," he said.
DUAL THREAT: Rookie cornerback Chevis Jackson is moving up the depth chart due to Chris Houston's shoulder injury. But even when Houston recovers Jackson could contribute on the first-team defense.
The rookie started working at nickel back when Von Hutchins was placed on injured reserve. Now he's jumping to the edge and working on the outside.
The change in position and schemes could make a rookie's head spin but Jackson has experience -- and size -- to work both spots.
"I did it in college," said the 5-foot-11, 189-pound rookie. "My first few years I played inside and outside. You just have to switch your mind set. Once you go outside it's not as physical as it is on the inside mixing it up with tight ends and running backs."
Jackson also faces quicker receivers in the slot position.
If Houston is unable to start Saturday's game at Jacksonville, Jackson will be ready.
"If the coaches throw me in because Chris is hurt I just have to go out there and play to the best of my ability," he said. "Every rookie looks forward to playing in his first NFL game. I've been dreaming about it for a while."
WELCOME BACK: With Martrez Milner nursing injuries to a knee, foot and ankle the Falcons made a move to solidify depth at the tight end position Tuesday afternoon.
Former Georgia Tech tight end George Cooper is back in the locker room. He spent last season on the Falcons practice squad but was released by the team earlier in the off-season.
"I'm glad they gave me another opportunity," Cooper said Monday after getting some post-practice work on receiving skills. "I spent my time off working out and being with my family. It kind of took the pressure off of not having a job."
Cooper looks forward to working with a familiar unit that has flown under the radar for much of the off-season.
"I think we have a strong group -- a group that works hard and likes to study," he said.
QUOTABLE: Head Coach Mike Smith on what he'd like to see during the preseason opener:
“Well, the first thing we want to see is our execution. We have got to go out and be able to execute both offensively, defensively and in special teams. We want to make sure we are good on our substitutions. When you have 80 guys who could potentially play in the game, substitution patterns can sometimes get a bit sloppy. The other thing we want to look at are the key places where there are position battles. When we move toward the regular season, we are going to be evaluating those guys.”
FROM THE TRAINING TABLE: Houston (shoulder), center Todd McClure (back) and defensive tackle Kindal Moorhead (back) were among the players to miss practice Monday morning. Smith said the team will review all injuries over the next 48 hours and won't rule anyone out for Saturday's game.
WEATHER REPORT: The temperature read in the mid-90s Monday afternoon but fans who attended the morning practice didn't have too deal with too much heat. The team has just two more practices open to the public in Russell Falcons Training Camp. Early forecasts for Jacksonville included a high of 87 and a low in the upper 60s.
RELATED LINKS:
- COVERAGE: Click here for complete coverage of 2008 Russell Falcons Training Camp
- NOTEBOOK: Versatile Jenkins showing moves with first team
- TRANSCRIPT: Head Coach Mike Smith
- RELEASE: Falcons place James on injured reserve, sign linebacker
- VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith
- BIRDSEED: J. Mike reviews and comments on Falcons news
- J. MIKE'S BLOG: Safety Net
- FALCON AL'S BLOG: An ESPN Shoot
