The Falcoholic
The Falcons first training camp practice brought us many insights into the team’s status heading into the 2025 season. Read on for notes from our live coverage on Thursday.
It’s life’s consistencies which sometimes bring us the most comfort. Two major consistencies which we experience in late July collide, coming together in the form of the Georgia heat and Atlanta Falcons Training Camp, both of which descended upon Flowery Branch like the expected guests they are.
Raheem Morris kicked things off with his pre camp press conference, announcing a major injury update (we’ll get to that) and talking about how TE Kyle Pitts Sr. has been cleared to return following a foot ailment which kept him out of minicamp (we’ll get to that as well).
Both Adnan and Kevin are present for camp, scoping things out from two different vantage points, with Adnan patrolling the sidelines and Kevin on the hill.
Speaking of the hill, it was packed with the return of fans who were unable to be present last year due to construction which was taking place around the facility.
Here are some of our observations from Day 1 of Falcons Training Camp this year!
It was not a great update from Coach Morris before practice began, with the announcement that ILB Troy Andersen would be placed on the “PUP” list to start camp. This sort of move only happens when an absence is expected to be indefinite.
Morris noted that Andersen is “on track” and that the team is optimistic about his return, but no specifics were given regarding a timeline.
Andersen is one of the players the team is hoping can finally put it all together, but injuries have derailed much of his career so far, as he has missed 25 out of a possible 34 games since his rookie season. It’s not the best start to year 4, as he will be unable to practice until he comes off the PUP list.
One of the main players to watch going into this season will be Kyle Pitts, who has failed to live up to his lofty draft expectations and who is currently in the last year of his rookie contract (the fifth year option).
For all the noise surrounding him, Pitts was a standout today. He was the recipient of QB Michael Penix Jr.’s first and third passes in 11-on-11 drills against the second team defense, going for a huge gain down each sideline. That second reception may have gone for a long touchdown in a real game.
Pitts was talked up heavily by Penix in the post practice press conference in front of the media. The second year signal caller noted that he got Pitts the ball a lot today and that “there’s gonna be a lot of that.”
For what it’s worth, Penix did gush over how close he’s gotten with his starting...
