1. Exhibition opener. The Falcons open the exhibition season against Washington at 7 p.m. at the Georgia Dome. The starters are not expected to play very much.
2. Injury update ? Will Neal play? Rookie strong safety Keanu Neal (trunk) and running back Terron Ward (ankle) are not expected to play against Washington. Tight end Levine Toilolo (hand) is more likely to play. The team is expected to announce their status for the game 90 minutes before kickoff. Washington coach Jay Gruden has declared tight end Jordan Reed (right thumb), wide receivers Jamison Crowder (hamstring) and Randy Diggs (knee) out for the game. Gruden will make game-time decisions on linebacker Preston Smith (Stephenson High/shoulder) and left tackle Trent Williams (knee).
3. Rookies to get action. The Falcons are not expected to expose the starters to many snaps.
4. Keith Marshall returns. Former Georgia standout Keith Marshall was drafted by Washington in the seventh round of the draft. Marshall is listed as the third running back behind Matt Jones and Chris Thompson on Washington?s depth chart.
5. Gray signed. With running back Terron Ward slowed by an ankle injury, the Falcons signed veteran running back Cyrus Gray on Wednesday.
With the Falcons opening the preseason on Thursday, which position will be most closely analyzed under the microscope?
Here?s how the depth chart is stacked heading into the exhibition opener:
OFFENSE
WR Julio Jones, Justin Hardy, Eric Weems, Devin Fuller, Jordan Leslie, Corey Washington
LT Jake Matthews, Tom Compton, Laurence Gibson
LG Andy Levitre, Wes Schweitzer, Collin Rahrig
C Alex Mack, Ben Garland, Jake Reed
RG Chris Chester, Mike Person, Michael Huey
RT Ryan Schraeder, Bryce Harris, Shahbaz Ahmed
TE Jacob Tamme, Austin Hooper, Levine Toilolo, D.J. Tialavea, Joshua Perkins, Arthur Lynch
WR Mohamed Sanu, Aldrick Robinson, Nick Williams, J.D. McKissic, David Glidden
FB Patrick DiMarco, Will Ratelle
QB Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Sean Renfree, Matt Simms
RB Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Terron Ward, Gus Johnson, Brandon Wilds
FB Patrick DiMarco, Will Ratelle
DEFENSE
DE Adrian Clayborn, Brooks Reed, Dwight Freeney, Nordly Capi
DT Tyson Jackson, Jonathan Babineaux, Cory Johnson, Brandon Williams
DT Grady Jarrett, Courtney Upshaw, Joey Mbu, Chris Mayes
DE Derrick Shelby, Ra?Shede Hageman, Malliciah Goodman, Efe Obado
LB Vic Beasley, Philip Wheeler, Tyler Starr, Ivan McLennan
LB Paul Worrilow, Deion Jones, LaRoy Reynolds
LB Sean Weatherspoon, De?Vondre Campbell, Matt Wells
CB Robert Alford, Jalen Collins, C.J. Goodwin, David Mims II, Jordan Sefon
CB Desmond Trufant, Akeem King, Brian Poole, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Devonte Johnson
FS Ricardo Allen, Robenson Therezie, Sharrod Neasman
SS Keanu Neal, Kemal Ishmael, Damian Parms
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Matt Bryant, Nick Rose
KO Matt Bosher
P Matt Bosher
KR Tevin Coleman, Eric Weems, Devin Fuller, J.D. McKissic
PR Eric Weems, Devin Fuller, J.D. McKissic
LS Josh Harris
H Matt Bosher
2. Injury update ? Will Neal play? Rookie strong safety Keanu Neal (trunk) and running back Terron Ward (ankle) are not expected to play against Washington. Tight end Levine Toilolo (hand) is more likely to play. The team is expected to announce their status for the game 90 minutes before kickoff. Washington coach Jay Gruden has declared tight end Jordan Reed (right thumb), wide receivers Jamison Crowder (hamstring) and Randy Diggs (knee) out for the game. Gruden will make game-time decisions on linebacker Preston Smith (Stephenson High/shoulder) and left tackle Trent Williams (knee).
3. Rookies to get action. The Falcons are not expected to expose the starters to many snaps.
4. Keith Marshall returns. Former Georgia standout Keith Marshall was drafted by Washington in the seventh round of the draft. Marshall is listed as the third running back behind Matt Jones and Chris Thompson on Washington?s depth chart.
5. Gray signed. With running back Terron Ward slowed by an ankle injury, the Falcons signed veteran running back Cyrus Gray on Wednesday.
With the Falcons opening the preseason on Thursday, which position will be most closely analyzed under the microscope?
Here?s how the depth chart is stacked heading into the exhibition opener:
OFFENSE
WR Julio Jones, Justin Hardy, Eric Weems, Devin Fuller, Jordan Leslie, Corey Washington
LT Jake Matthews, Tom Compton, Laurence Gibson
LG Andy Levitre, Wes Schweitzer, Collin Rahrig
C Alex Mack, Ben Garland, Jake Reed
RG Chris Chester, Mike Person, Michael Huey
RT Ryan Schraeder, Bryce Harris, Shahbaz Ahmed
TE Jacob Tamme, Austin Hooper, Levine Toilolo, D.J. Tialavea, Joshua Perkins, Arthur Lynch
WR Mohamed Sanu, Aldrick Robinson, Nick Williams, J.D. McKissic, David Glidden
FB Patrick DiMarco, Will Ratelle
QB Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Sean Renfree, Matt Simms
RB Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Terron Ward, Gus Johnson, Brandon Wilds
FB Patrick DiMarco, Will Ratelle
DEFENSE
DE Adrian Clayborn, Brooks Reed, Dwight Freeney, Nordly Capi
DT Tyson Jackson, Jonathan Babineaux, Cory Johnson, Brandon Williams
DT Grady Jarrett, Courtney Upshaw, Joey Mbu, Chris Mayes
DE Derrick Shelby, Ra?Shede Hageman, Malliciah Goodman, Efe Obado
LB Vic Beasley, Philip Wheeler, Tyler Starr, Ivan McLennan
LB Paul Worrilow, Deion Jones, LaRoy Reynolds
LB Sean Weatherspoon, De?Vondre Campbell, Matt Wells
CB Robert Alford, Jalen Collins, C.J. Goodwin, David Mims II, Jordan Sefon
CB Desmond Trufant, Akeem King, Brian Poole, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Devonte Johnson
FS Ricardo Allen, Robenson Therezie, Sharrod Neasman
SS Keanu Neal, Kemal Ishmael, Damian Parms
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Matt Bryant, Nick Rose
KO Matt Bosher
P Matt Bosher
KR Tevin Coleman, Eric Weems, Devin Fuller, J.D. McKissic
PR Eric Weems, Devin Fuller, J.D. McKissic
LS Josh Harris
H Matt Bosher
