FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons expect Kyle Pitts on the practice field for training camp in July, but no one has said yet if the third-year tight end will be at full speed.
Pitts, the No. 4 pick in the 2021 draft, missed the final seven games last season with a torn MCL and did not participate in the team’s organized team activities or practice during mandatory minicamp this week. Pitts has been around the Falcons facility intermittently, but he was not spotted on the field during portions of practices open to the media this week.
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“(We) feel good about where he’s at,” head coach Arthur Smith said.
The only player Atlanta doesn’t expect to have on the field for training camp is running back and punt returner Avery Williams, who tore his ACL during OTAs last week and is expected to miss the 2023 season. Williams led the NFL in punt return average (16.2 yards) last season.
While losing Williams is a blow to the Falcons, the status of Pitts for the upcoming season is the question that looms larger. He became the second rookie tight end in history to top 1,000 yards receiving in 2021 but only averaged 35.6 receiving yards per game last year before his injury.
“He’s on his own plan, and once he’s ready to go, we’re all game to go,” quarterback Desmond Ridder said. “(We’re) excited for him to get back.”
Ridder has yet to throw a pass to Pitts in a game because he didn’t make his NFL debut until Dec. 18 last season.
“They’ll get on the same page, very confident in that,” Smith said.
Patterson foresees a good fit with Robinson
Veteran running back Cordarrelle Patterson isn’t worried that first-round draft pick Bijan Robinson is going to take touches away from him. In fact, Patterson sounds like it’s OK if he does.
“As an older guy, I don’t have to get beat up too many plays,” he said.
Patterson, who is entering his 11th season, said he would prefer for his role this season to more closely resemble 2021 (9.5 carries per game, 3.3 catches per game) than 2022 (11 carries per game, 1.6 catches per game).
“They could have drafted someone with the first overall pick, my mindset would have been the same,” he said Wednesday. “I felt a little old today, but not too old. It was good to see everybody.”
Patterson heaped praise on Robinson after spending two days on the practice field with him in minicamp.
“It took me a while as a rookie, but it seemed like he came in and learned the playbook that quick,” he said, snapping his fingers. “As y’all can see, he’s out there everywhere. There is not one spot he can not play on this field.”
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Mack making a quick impact
New wide receiver Mack Hollins’ name keeps coming up this offseason.
“In that wide receiver room, it’s a lot of young guys, and Mack has done a great job of stepping up and bringing those guys along whether it’s in the film room or whatever they need,” Ridder said.
Hollins, a six-year veteran, got a laugh Wednesday when he lurked over an interview with second-year wide receiver Drake London.
New WR Mack Hollins peeks in on an interview with Drake London after Atlanta's minicamp practice Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/u4dJMz7HIV
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) June 14, 2023
“We love Mack,” London said. “He’s been a great vet in our room. He’s always joking around, but at the same time we’re serious and he knows that as well.”
Hollins made an immediate impact during OTAs, wide receivers coach T.J. Yates said.
“The best thing about him is instant leadership as soon as you walk in the building,” Yates said. “It’s for the way he works. I mean, it’s infectious throughout the entire team. He’s had such an impact on the team from his leadership and his professionalism that he brings every single day.”
Defensive line depth gets another boost
Tuesday’s minicamp practice marked the first full on-field workout for defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham since he tore his ACL in the 12th game of the 2022 season.
“It felt good. It felt surprisingly good,” Graham said. “I felt strong and confident, feel good moving around. It may have taken me a few days to get into the swing, but I definitely feel comfortable out here on the field and competing with my teammates.”
Graham started nine games last season, finishing with 34 tackles, but he could see his role diminish this year because Atlanta added defensive linemen David Onyemata, Calais Campbell and Joe Graziano in free agency.
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Dupree’s demeanor is a good fit
Defensive end Bud Dupree said he has something to prove this season, and Smith believes Dupree is going to do it.
“I’ll choose my words carefully here: Bud’s a physical football player. I kind of like that,” Smith said. “He’s a guy who wants to be here. He fits our culture. I’ve coached against Bud and watched some of the things he brings to the table. Bud’s a tone-setter, that’s putting it nicely.”
Dupree has played eight seasons but only totaled 22 games and 35 tackles in the last two years due to injury.
“I’m here to prove myself,” he said. “I’m a player that goes out and, whatever you want me to do, I’m going to do it full speed.”
Visiting the troops
Smith, defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, defensive end Lorenzo Carter, kicker Younghoe Koo and tight end Feleipe Franks will take part in a USO Tour in Germany next week.
“They knew that I liked doing things with the military, especially spending time with those guys that protect us and put their life on the line,” Carter said. “Seems like a fun opportunity.”
The group will leave Saturday.
“You can talk a lot of ball on a 10-hour flight,” Carter said.
Special teams adjustments
The Falcons will have an open competition to replace Williams as the punt returner, special teams coach Marquice Williams said. Robinson fielded some kicks this week and will be an option, Williams said.
That’s not the only special teams adjustment either. The new NFL rule allowing fair catches on kickoffs could affect Atlanta’s strategy, although Williams wouldn’t offer any hints about how.
Patterson, who last year set the NFL’s career record with his ninth kickoff return for a touchdown, said he doesn’t expect Atlanta to fair catch many kickoffs.
“Marquice and I talked, and that doesn’t affect us,” Patterson said. “We’re still going to be aggressive.”
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A look back at Mariota
The Netflix documentary “Quarterback,” which will include footage and interviews with Marcus Mariota during his time as the Falcons quarterback last season, will debut July 12. Smith didn’t seem concerned the documentary would reveal much about his team.
“Netflix does a good job,” he said. “Like every TV show, I’m sure there will be some good parts. I’m sure there will be some historical fiction.”
Mahomes. Cousins. Mariota. See the game from their side.
Quarterback premieres July 12 pic.twitter.com/TvgfumO1Xf
— Netflix (@netflix) June 14, 2023
Pulling their grades up
The Falcons will embark on a $25 million to $30 million renovation of their practice facility starting next week. The project will begin with a new weight room, which will be added to the south side of the building and will be twice the square footage of the current weight room. The team hopes it will be completed before training camp in the summer of 2024, team president Greg Beadles said.
Once the new weight room is complete, the old space will be used to expand the locker room, which also will double in size and include 90 permanent lockers, enough to house everyone on the team’s offseason roster. That project could be completed during the 2024 season.
Coming soon to Flowery Branch!👀https://t.co/GnzaGGw2zS pic.twitter.com/H70Zo6DGr4
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) June 14, 2023
The Falcons’ locker room received a “D” grade in a survey of Atlanta players taken by the NFLPA last season. That ranked 25th among NFL teams. The weight room received a “C-minus,” which was tied for 27th. Plans for the upcoming renovations began before the release of the report cards.
“The scorecard itself wasn’t an impetus for it, but we agreed with some of the things the players pointed out,” Beadles said. “We know the players look and want to make sure the owner and the team are taking care of players.”
Offensive line issues
Although Atlanta drafted Matthew Bergeron in the second round with the expectation he would become the starting left guard, fourth-year pro Matt Hennessy held that spot for most of the minicamp snaps.
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In other offensive line news, Jalen Mayfield, who started at guard as a rookie and struggled, worked at right tackle this week. Mayfield was a collegiate tackle.
“If you’re not going to start, then you need to have versatility,” Smith said.
Participation trophies
Eighty-six of the Falcons’ 90 rostered players practiced during minicamp. Pitts, Williams, running back Caleb Huntley (Achilles) and defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (coming back from retirement) were the four who were unable to practice. Atlanta expects Pitts, Huntley and Goldman to be available for training camp, which would be something of a surprise in Huntley’s case considering he was injured on Dec. 18 against New Orleans.
“I’m optimistic,” Smith said. “I hate to give you a date, but it’s certainly trending in a positive direction.”
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
