Team news: Atlanta Falcons | Page 6

Falcons TE Kyle Pitts (hamstring) fully participated in practice for a second straight day and is good to go for Sunday vs. Pittsburgh.

Related Players: Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley

Pitts should be locked in as a top-10 option as he faces off against the Steelers and Arthur Smith.

Falcons TE Kyle Pitts is dealing with a hamstring injury and will be limited at practice today, per HC Raheem Morris.

Related Players: Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley

Nothing to worry about quite yet, as a limited Wednesday practice doesn't mean he won't be a full-go by kickoff. We'll keep an eye on practice reports over the next two days.

Ja’Lynn Polk likely will be one of the starting wide receivers when Week 1 arrives, at least until Kendrick Bourne returns from injury. Polk’s training camp hasn’t been spectacular or filled with other-worldly catches, but he has been consistent and done enough for the quarterbacks to trust him.

Demario Douglas probably has been the best wide receiver, but Polk isn’t far behind. He might start behind K.J. Osborn on the depth chart, but optimism is high around the second-round pick out of Washington.

Related players: Javon Baker

While optimism is high around Polk, it sounds like even if he doesn't get a starting job out of the gate, it should only be a matter of time. Meanwhile, fourth round pick Baker started strong, but looks to be further down the depth chart after a tough stretch, according to the rest of the story. Baker is dealing with drops in practice and running with the fourth-string QB at times. The story said he'll likely start as the team's WR4 or WR5.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told the media Saturday that rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will not play in the remainder of the preseason.

"We feel really good with where we're at with Michael," Morris said, via McElhaney. "Mike showed us, last week, enough that we don't have to play him in the preseason." As a result, Penix did not play Saturday against the Ravens and will not play Friday against the Jaguars. Penix threw for 104 yards on 9-of-16 passing in his preseason debut. The question now becomes when will we see Penix play again. Kirk Cousins isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The Falcons had raved about Penix since before the draft and this quote is just the latest example.

Someone in the set of wideouts has to emerge as an eventual No. 1. Right now, rookie Ja’Lynn Polk has as good a shot as anyone.

Related players: Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Javon Baker, K.J. Osborn, Kayshon Boutte

For what it's worth, we've already reflected this on our fantasy depth charts listing Polk as the top option. Robinson thinks Polk could step in and get a ton of targets immediately. In the preseason opener, Polk played limited snaps but caught three balls for 14 yards. Robinson expects those numbers to grow. Polk could be worth targeting in the later rounds of drafts given his very late ADP.

Falcons WR Rondale Moore, who was carted off from practice yesterday, suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Related Players: Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud, Casey Washington, KhaDarel Hodge

Moore had apparently been losing some snaps to McCloud through training camp, so this most likely pushes Ray-Ray into the starting lineup with Moore out for the year. Consistent targets for whoever steps up will be a very difficult task, with Drake London and Kyle Pitts (and Bijan Robinson) expected to take a massive chunk of the target share.

Rondale Moore leaving the field on a cart with an inflatable cast on his right leg. Falcons teammates gathered around him before he left field and now gathered in prayer.

Related Players: Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud, Casey Washington, KhaDarel Hodge

Moore had apparently been losing some snaps to McCloud through training camp, so this most likely pushes Ray-Ray into the starting lineup if Moore ends up missing time. Regardless, neither slot guy is especially attractive for fantasy purposes, with Drake London and Kyle Pitts (and Bijan Robinson) expected to take a massive chunk of the target share.

Following yesterday’s practice, Justin Herbert was diagnosed with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot.

Doctors have recommended approximately two weeks in a boot — followed by a graduated return to play protocol — with the expectation that he will be ready for the start of the regular season.

Related Players: Easton Stick, Max Duggan

Ah yes, just what we needed; more bad news for the Chargers' passing game. Easton Stick should be stashed away in (very) deep SuperFlex Dynasty leagues, but doesn't move the needle in redraft leagues. If Herbert misses time in the regular season, the entire offense needs to be downgraded in fantasy.

Panthers signed former Buccaneers wide receiver Deven Thompkins, who spent the past two seasons with the Buccaneers, where he was with Carolina HC Dave Canales.

Related Players: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, David Moore, Terrace Marshall

Thompkins could have a long road to make the team after being released by the Buccaneers earlier this offseason. The former Utah State Aggie was taken as a UDFA in 2022, and has 35 total targets through his first two seasons.

It is too early to know which direction it will head, but as the Patriots are currently on break before their first training camp practice July 24, one thing can be decisively stated about Polk's initial work: His toughness and relentless mentality reflected well on the culture Wolf and Mayo hope to create.

Related Players: DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Kendrick Bourne, Javon Baker

Reiss would later remark that Osborn, Douglas, and Polk could be the team's "top three targets if everyone is healthy." It's an interesting group to target, considering we have no way of knowing exactly how things will shape out. Douglas and Polk make for great late-round dart throws.