FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Two of the Atlanta Falcons' draft picks who have been either limited or absent in training camp last week both returned to the field Monday.
Safety Xavier Watts and edge rusher Jalon Walker were present for the seventh open practice. Watts has been limited for what Falcons head coach Raheem Morris called "preventive maintenance," while Walker was absent a few times with a “minor” hamstring injury.
"We'll kind of ease them back in," Morris said. "Probably the next day, after that, we'll kind of pull them back a little bit to unleash him a little bit toward that high practice to get them ready for the off day and to get into our preseason game stuff. We'll get those guys ready to go."
Monday was a "low practice" with just helmets. Pads will be back on Tuesday. And then Wednesday will be the Falcons' first full-team scrimmage.
Atlanta hosts the Detroit Lions on Friday for their first preseason game.
Watts was not made available to the media Monday, but Walker was. Walker clarified his hamstring is no longer an issue, and he is not concerned about his developmental timeline despite missing a few practices.
"I know myself, the way I pride myself on staying prepared for all situations," Walker said. "Mental intensity. Mental preparations. Those are things I take pride in, just being in my film or being in my journal. Things like that. I feel like I'm ahead of the game on the ball just because of that. Me not having that time out there doesn't say I'm behind."
Although it cannot be said for sure whether Watts and Walker were full participants Monday, they were involved in position drills and 11-on-11 work. Watts and Walker each took reps with the second-team defense. It may not have been a normal load, though.
Those decisions are made by the coaching and training staff alike. Better safe than sorry seems to have been the mindset this offseason and preseason. Even if the players would rather be full-go.
"Trusting their process," Walker said. "I have my emotions, of course, in just getting back out there as fast as I can. But they knew what's best the team and they know what's best for me."
Open practice count: 7 of 11 | See all dates
Most notable player: Michael Penix Jr. The second-year quarterback and first-year starter was super clean in 11-on-11 work Monday despite the less-than-ideal weather. It was raining throughout the two-hour practice, which could have easily resulted in some wonky passes or dropped balls. Instead, Penix had one of his best showings of training camp.
Say what now: "It reminds me of those playoff years and the good years we had in '16, '17 — that's where we want to be," offensive tackle Jake Matthews on the intensity in practice this early into training camp.
Song of the day: "WHATS POPPIN" by Jack Harlow. It was one of the very few songs I recognized.
Roll call: Missing from Monday's practice were wide receiver Darnell Mooney (expected), cornerback Keith Taylor (unknown), inside linebacker Malik Verdon (Non-Football Injury list), inside linebacker Troy Andersen (Physically Unable to Perform list) and offensive lineman Storm Norton (unknown).
General observations:
-- Morris said before practice that neither Penix nor Kirk Cousins will play in Friday's preseason game against the Detroit Lions. Easton Stick and Emory Jones will share quarterback responsibilities. Otherwise, because the team is younger this year, Morris said a lot more players will see the field compared to last preseason. Exactly how much will be better determined after Wednesday's scrimmage.
-- Speaking of the quarterbacks, Penix completed 13 of his 15 passes in 11-on-11 work. He was 2-of-3 in the red zone specifically, throwing touchdown passes to tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (with cornerbacks Lamar Jackson and Clark Phillips III in coverage) and to wide receiver Drake London (with nickel Dee Alford in coverage). Cousins completed 10 of his 12 passes in 11-on-11 work. He was 2-of-3 in the red zone and scored on a run himself that elicited cheers from fans on the hill. Stick and Jones only threw one pass attempt apiece, and both connected. Stick found tight end Feleipe Franks. Jones hit wide receiver Nick Nash.
-- Cousins threw the sole interception on the day, getting picked off by cornerback Cobee Bryant. It was a deeper pass down the left sideline intended for wide receiver DJ Chark, who continues to take reps primarily with the second-team offense.
-- Penix had a really nice throw to wide receiver Casey Washington during the "mamba" period in which the first-team offense and defense line up against each other. Cornerback Mike Hughes was in coverage. Overall, Washington had a substantial increase in reps with the first-team offense Monday. With Mooney still out with a shoulder injury, there’s an opening for Washington to make his name known as a possible replacement in the meantime.
-- During position drills, Morris tried to press wide receiver Drake London. Morris found himself knocked down to the ground in the process. London must have gotten briefly distracted because he missed a one-handed catch that followed.
-- With Norton missing, rookie Jack Nelson filled in as the second team's right tackle.
-- Inside linebacker JD Bertrand was present but not participating in 11-on-11 work. The second-team linebackers were mainly Caleb Johnson and Josh Woods. That position is one that could use more depth with Andersen already on the PUP list and now Bertrand apparently facing limitations.
-- Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. found himself in another scuffle, this time against offensive lineman Tyrone Wheatley Jr. It was quickly broken up by Morris and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, though, so not much else to say there.
-- Kickers Younghoe Koo and Lenny Krieg got four boots apiece. Koo made every one. Krieg missed one. It was difficult to tell the distances.
What's next: The Falcons hold their eighth open practice Tuesday at IBM Performance Field.
Countdown to kickoff: There are 34 days until the Falcons' Week 1 opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 7 inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | See full schedule
