Falcoholinks, July 30, 2025: Everything you need to know from the Falcons’ first padded practice

Plus, Jeff Ulbrich mic’d up is worth a watch!

Good morning Falcoholics, and welcome to Wednesday! The Falcons were back on the training camp practice field yesterday, in pads for the first time this camp, and we have a lot to talk about today!

As always, this post is your open thread for the day, so feel free to discuss all things Falcons. I’ll give you a little something to get you started. When players show up for training camp, they often bring things from home to give them a little comfort and distraction while they’re in the dorms. Chris Lindstrom brought his pillow and his XBOX. Kirk Cousins brought fancy flavored coffee creamer, which may be the most Kirk Cousins thing ever. What training camp essentials would you bring from home?

Me? I’d bring my dog (the chihuahua/Jack Russell mix, not the Frenchie. The Frenchie is way too energetic for that environment). Oh, no dogs allowed you say? Then I’ll get him certified as an emotional support animal. Checkmate.

We have quite a bit to get through today, so on to the links!

Falcons news

• Kirk Cousins spoke to the media on Sunday along with several other players, and though this whole video is worth a watch if you’ve got the time. It’s worth skipping ahead to 13:16 to hear what he has to say about rookies James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker. - AtlantaFalcons.com

• Another fun one from the Falcons: Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was mic’d up for a training camp practice. - AtlantaFalcons.com

• What’s the deal with Jalon Walker? The team says he’s got a modified practice program, but he’s missed two consecutive practices (with a rest day in between!) and we’ve had no concrete updates. It makes me a little nervous. - via D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• I really enjoyed new Falcon DJ Chark’s chat with the media in that first video I linked above. He’s an interesting guy, very smart, kind of soft spoken but you can tell he’s got a good sense of humor. And by the way: He was fully on board with retirement before he got that call from the Falcons. - via Terrin Waack, AtlantaFalcons.com

NFL News

• A gunman entered the Midtown New York City building that houses the NFL offices and killed four people. An NFL employee on the finance team was shot and is in stable condition. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this terrible crime. - via Mark Schofield, SB Nation
• Could Drake London make it to the Pro Bowl this season? I sure hope so. He tops this list of six NFL players who should make it to the Pro Bowl for the first time this year. - via JP Acosta, SB Nation
• You may remember the Falcons Hidden Gems post by Doug Farrar we published here a few weeks ago. He wrote one for each team, and it’s a nice little preview. -...