The Falcons returned to Flowery Branch Saturday afternoon to practice after a fun night under the lights in Lawrenceville, Ga. Take a look at pictures from the seventh practice of 2014 XFINITY Atlanta Falcons Training Camp.

Verizon was giving away fun prizes to fans on Saturday

Two fans pose for a picture at the Verizon tent

929 the Game went live from camp again today

OL Gabe Carimi

CB Javier Arenas waits for practice to begin with CB Jordin Mabin and CB Robert Alford

G Jon Asamoah


OL Mike Johnson and C Joe Hawley

DE Kroy Biermann


LB Marquis Spruill

Secondary coach Tim Lewis

WR Julio Jones

RB Antone Smith and RB Devonta Freeman

RB Antone Smith and RB Devonta Freeman

WR Bernard Reedy



LB Tyler Starr

DE Stansly Maponga

Head coach Mike Smith

Head coach Mike Smith

Head coach Mike Smith

WR Jabin Sambrano

WR Courtney Roby

T Jake Matthews


OL Adam Replogle

G Harland Gunn

WR Julian Jones

WR Jeremy Ebert

WR Bernard Reedy

WR Bernard Reedy

WR Tramaine Thompson

WR Devin Hester

WR Devin Hester

WR Julio Jones

DE Tyson Jackson


DE Osi Umenyiora and DT Corey Peters talk to offensive line coach, Mike Tice, during stretches

LB Brenden Daley

LB Tim Dobbins

LB Paul Worrilow

Chris Scelfo, tight ends coach, works with his group

LB Joplo Bartu and LB Paul Worrilow

LB Tim Dobbins and LB Paul Worrilow




Defensive line coach Bryan Cox works with DE Nosa Eguae

Defensive line coach Bryan Cox works with DT Theo Agnew


FB Maurice Hagens

DT Jonathan Babineaux

DE Malliciah Goodman

DT Travian Robertson

Defensive line coach Bryan Cox

DT Theo Agnew and DE Malliciah Goodman

DT Jonathan Babineaux

DE Cliff Matthews

DE Osi Umenyiora



T Jake Matthews signs autographs

G Justin Blalock signs autographs

DE Cliff Matthews signs autographs

DT Jonathan Babineaux signs autographs

DT Paul Soliai signs autographs
Saturday marked the seventh practice of 2014 XFINITY® Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at Flowery Branch, and it was a day no different than the last six, except for the attendance of the Heitzman family, friends of Falcons Owner and Chairman Arthur Blank, Angie Macuga and her daughter, Emily Macuga.
Christ Heitzman, a 20-year-old from Marietta, Ga., was in a car accident in July 2012, just two months after graduating from Lassiter High School, and a few short weeks before starting the next chapter of his life at Georgia College and State University, where he had a scholarship with the baseball team.
Since the accident, Heitzman has been doing outpatient therapy every day of the week at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. The therapy he is undergoing is physical, occupational, speech, water and, starting next week, hippotherapy, a type of therapy where a horse is used.
Because of the extent of his injuries, each area of his body needs attention. Together, the doctors and the Heitzman's are "trying to assign time for each area to recover," Heitzman's mom, Debbie, said.
Still, days like Saturday, although emotional, the support and love the family has received still gets to them.
"It's amazing," Mrs. Heitzman said. "For Angie and Mr. Blank to invite us here today, we were just over the moon."
"Seeing his friends and the community that have supported him since the accident is astounding," she continued. "You know, it's not us, it's him. He gained all that respect himself before the accident, and so people have just been repaying. We found all these stories we never knew about where he was a mentor to these younger kids and had done all this stuff. He's just such a good person"
After the accident, Heitzman was unable to walk because one of his feet was twisted due to his brain injury, the most severe injury he received. After an extensive surgery, his foot was straightened, and the sheer determination to walk again helped him achieve the goal four months ago.
On Saturday, Heitzman stood on the field near professional athletes, a feat in itself, with friends and family close by, just like they have been since the day of the accident.
"Christopher was an amazing student and athlete, and I think he still sees himself in that light of being out here on the field with teammates, well he sees them as teammates, with the elite," Mrs. Heitzman said.
For families who are going through a similar situation, Heitzman's mom says to "be strong and be together."
"Just doing everything you possibly can humanly do to help them get back on their feet" helps them," she said.