NW Atlanta News

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons teased their home crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday night when the entire team, including quarterback Kirk Cousins, took the field in full pads for warmups.

However, when game time arrived, all of the starters were in street clothes. A fair share of the backups switched out their attire as well. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was among them.

The change made sense as the Falcons sat a similar group last week against the Baltimore Ravens. It would have been unexpected for the team to alter that approach in Atlanta's third and final preseason game.

Below are three takeaways from the Falcons' 31-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars:

**Skewed Series**

Although the Falcons chose to sit their starters, the Jaguars did not. On either side of the ball, it was noticeable as Jacksonville took a 21-0 lead into halftime. To be fair, only 14 points were from the Jaguars' first team.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence played two series, spanning the entire first quarter and nearly half of the second quarter. He completed eight of his 10 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Both scoring plays went to tight end Evan Engram with catches from 6 and 5 yards in the first and second quarters, respectively.

Falcons cornerback Anthony Johnson broke up a pass Lawrence intended for wide receiver Gabe Davis. The other incompletion also targeted Davis but fell flat.

The two series Lawrence led produced a total of 154 offensive yards on 22 plays, including 59 rushing yards.

The Jaguars sent their starting defense out as well. That unit played through the whole first half, limiting Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke to completing eight of his 17 passes for 81 yards while being sacked once by defensive end Travon Walker for a loss of four yards.

Atlanta also had 21 rushing yards, giving it a total of 98 net offensive yards through two quarters.

**Double Duty**

The Falcons are experimenting with defensive back Kevin King by starting him at safety rather than his usual cornerback role.

King started as a cornerback against the Miami Dolphins in Atlanta's preseason opener and performed well by forcing a fumble, making an interception, and recording three tackles. Against Baltimore, King did not take any defensive snaps but participated in five special teams plays.

Friday was not King's first turn at safety; he played that position during Wednesday’s scrimmage as well.

Assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray commented on King's versatility: "(He's) versatile," Gray said last week. "He could play corner. He could play nickel. He could play dime... if he needs to play safety, he can play safety."

King made two stops against Jacksonville's starting offense and another against its backups.

With safety DeMarcco Hellams out due to an ankle injury expected to sideline him for a significant amount of time according to head coach Raheem Morris, King may provide necessary depth in this role ahead of Tuesday’s NFL roster deadline.

**Bubble Boys**

As roster cuts loom ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for NFL teams to finalize their rosters at 53 players each player fought hard during Friday’s game hoping secure one those coveted spots

Here are some standout players who have been fighting for spots on Atlanta's roster this preseason:

—CB Natrone Brooks: Entered Friday with a team-high 14 tackles (one for loss) and forced fumble; added six tackles against Jacksonville.

—OLB Bradlee Anae: Entered Friday with three quarterback hurries (team-high), half-sack four tackles; added two tackles one sack (five-yard loss) against Jacksonville.

—ILB Milo Eifler: Entered Friday second-most tackles (11) along stop-for-loss quarterback hurry; added six tackles against Jacksonville.

—ILB Donavan Mutin: Entered Friday ten tackles (third-most); added eighteen tackles final preseason game.

-- WR Chris Blair: Entered Friday third-most receiving yards league (136) through two preseason games; finished additional two catches eighteen yards against Jacksonville.

-- RB Carlos Washington Jr.: Entered Friday sixty-four rushing yards preseason; finished seven rushing-yards four carries against Jacksonville.

-- QB Taylor Heinicke: Entered Friday one-hundred twenty-five passing-yards preseason finished eighty-one passing-yards against Jacksonville

Practice squad remains option determination following finalization fifty-three-man roster.