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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons vs. Lions: How to watch, listen, stream Friday's preseason game
Atlanta's preseason opener kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. ET After a seven-month break, the Atlanta Falcons are officially back for their preseason opener against the Detroit Lions. Friday night's matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta kicks off at 7 p.m. ET. While the Falcons' starters won't be suiting up, the team's 2025 draft class is expected to play. This means fans will get to see first-round picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. make their NFL debut on Friday night. Third-round pick Xavier Watts will also be looking to make an impact as he battles for the team's other starting safety job next to Jessie Bates III. The Lions made their preseason debut against the Los Angeles Chargers last week in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. Detroit doesn't plan to play its starters but rookie guard Tate Ratledge is expected to get a few snaps. Below is everything you need to watch, listen or stream tonight's game in Atlanta. Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions: Watch, listen, stream Check out the Falcons' depth chart and updated 90-man roster ahead of Friday night's preseason matchup in Atlanta. Around Falcons Wire:
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Falcons starting lineups (with PFF grades) based on first depth chart
On Wednesday, the Atlanta Falcons released their first depth chart for the 2025 NFL season. Offensively, the team's starting lineup is what most expected. Defensively, there were a few surprises, including rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. being listed as backups. The Falcons will play their first preseason game this Friday evening at home against the Detroit Lions. Head coach Raheem Morris said he plans to rest quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins, but all five rookies are expected to play. This will give Walker and Pearce a chance to show they deserve to start this season. Based on the team's first official depth chart, let's check out Atlanta's starting lineups on offense, defense and special teams. We've included the 2024 Pro Football Focus season grades for each starter. Falcons starting offense with PFF grades: QB : 87.9 RB Bijan Robinson: 92.8 WR Drake London: 87.8 WR Darnell Mooney: 74.0 WR Ray-Ray McCloud: 62.7 TE Kyle Pitts: 59.6 LT Jake Matthews: 79.8 LG Matt Bergeron: 70.9 C Ryan Neuzil: 58.6 RG Chris Lindstrom: 93.5 RT : 73.8 Falcons starting defense with PFF grades: EDGE Arnold Ebiketie: 68.2 DL David Onyemata: 66.2 DL Ruke Orhorhoro: 56.2 EDGE Leonard Floyd: 53.5 ILB Kaden Elliss: 71.1 ILB Divine Deablo: 56.8 CB A.J. Terrell: 68.5 CB Mike Hughes: 71.9 NB Dee Alford: 58.2 S Jessie Bates: 80.2 S Jordan Fuller: 53.8 Special teams starters with grades: K Younghoe Koo: 69.0 P Bradley Pinion: 83.0 KR/PR Jamal Agnew: N/A LS Liam McCullough: 67.3 Check out the Falcons' full depth chart ahead of Friday night's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. ET inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Around Falcons Wire:Falcons plan to play rookies? This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons starting lineups on first depth chart of 2025
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons starting lineups (with PFF grades) based on first depth chart
Examining Atlanta's starting lineups, per the team's first official depth chart of 2025. On Wednesday, the Atlanta Falcons released their first depth chart for the 2025 NFL season. Offensively, the team's starting lineup is what most expected. Defensively, there were a few surprises, including rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. being listed as backups. The Falcons will play their first preseason game this Friday evening at home against the Detroit Lions. Head coach Raheem Morris said he plans to rest quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins, but all five rookies are expected to play. This will give Walker and Pearce a chance to show they deserve to start this season. Based on the team's first official depth chart, let's check out Atlanta's starting lineups on offense, defense and special teams. We've included the 2024 Pro Football Focus season grades for each starter. Falcons starting offense with PFF grades: Falcons starting defense with PFF grades: Special teams starters with grades: Check out the Falcons' full depth chart ahead of Friday night's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. ET inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Around Falcons Wire:
USA Today
28-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons rookie named 'long-shot' to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
James Pearce Jr. listed among 'long-shot' award winners for the 2025 season The Atlanta Falcons were happy to land Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker with the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, but they knew one player alone wouldn't be enough to fix one of the worst pass rushes in the league. So when general manager Terry Fontenot saw that Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr. was still on the board late in the first round, he got on the phone and made a deal. The Falcons gave up a future first-round pick to move up and take Pearce with the 26th overall pick. While both Walker and Pearce are expected to play a lot this season, only one player can win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. analyst Bucky Brooks published an article examining seven "long-shot" candidates to win the league's major awards this season. Pearce was listed as Brooks' long-shot Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate in 2025: The Dirty Birds might have finally solved their pass-rushing woes with the selections of Pearce and fellow first-round pick Jalon Walker in the 2025 NFL Draft. Pearce is an explosive speed rusher with exceptional instincts, awareness and first-step quickness. As a quarterback hunter for a team that desperately needs sack production and quarterback disruption, the No. 26 overall pick could make his mark immediately as a designated pass rusher in Jeff Ulbrich's scheme. Whether winning with speed and athleticism off the edge or overwhelming blockers with a crafty bull rush or two-handed swipe maneuver, Pearce steps onto the field with a bag of tricks that will help him showcase his talents in Year 1. -- Bucky Brooks, The Falcons have two ideal candidates for the award, but Pearce might have a better shot to rack up sacks this season due to his role. While we expect Walker to be a tackling machine regardless of where he lines up, Pearce should play almost exclusively off the edge, giving him more opportunities to rush the QB. Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is extremely high on Pearce. He recently praised the rookie's array of pass-rushing moves and underrated strength. "I don't think he gets enough credit for the amount of power that he has in his body as well," Ulbrich said about Pearce. "He's got the full arsenal. Can we improve it? There's no doubt. But the starting point is so much better than most." Atlanta's rookies and veterans will report for training camp together on July 23.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aggressive Draft For The Atlanta Falcons Could Result In One Defensive Rookie Earning DROY Honors
Aggressive Draft For The Atlanta Falcons Could Result In One Defensive Rookie Earning DROY Honors originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The inconsistency of the pass rush in Atlanta has been the butt of jokes for awhile now, but CBS Sports predicts that to change with one rookie winning DPOY. Advertisement The Falcons had the second-fewest sacks in the NFL last year and have been inconsistent at putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks since John Abraham patrolled the edge. I'm sorry, Vic Beasley, but stats do not lie. James Pearce Jr. has his video board displayed after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL Draft. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso named rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. his pick to win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors at season's end. Atlanta would listen to the fans this year and be aggressive in finding that next great edge rusher to wreak havoc on opposing QBs. The team traded back into the first round to snag Pearce Jr. after drafting Jalon Walker with the 15th pick. Some fans and officials think that Atlanta may have given up too much to get back into the first round to draft Pearce Jr, but they wanted another dynamic rusher to set the tone for the offseason in addressing pressing needs. They would give up a 2026 first-round selection in doing so. Advertisement According to PFF, Atlanta would also finish third worst in pass-rushing defense. With the glaring needs on the defensive side of the football, Chris Trapasso was very high on Pearce Jr. coming into this year's draft. "With Pearce as my No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 class, I'm not backing away from that before any games are played,' said Trapasso of CBS Sports. 'Pearce is a sizable, athletic, refined, and deceptively powerful outside rusher who demolished the SEC the past two seasons with a cumulative pressure rate over 21%. I've written that statistic like 50 times the past four months, and I'm still astonished by it.' 'His situation in Atlanta couldn't be more conducive to DROY hype,' Trapasso said. 'Atlanta has finished 32nd in sacks twice (2015, 2021) and 31st a ridiculous five times (2013, 2014, 2019, 2022, and 2024) over the past decade. Any uptick in team pass-rushing production will be viewed as a ginormous win for the Falcons.' Related: The Dawn Of A Dangerous Contender In Atlanta Related: Are The Atlanta Falcons The NFL's Wildcard In 2025 With The Team's New Identity? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
