Who will the Atlanta Falcons face in the 2024 preseason?

The Atlanta Falcons’ preseason is less than a month away and anticipation is building for a game that doesn’t matter. Atlanta fans will get to see their first game since early January and get a glimpse of the position battles underway.

However, all the headlines will be about the handling of the quarterback position and when Michael Penix Jr. will make his debut. With Kirk Cousins’ health on the line to start the year, it would be fair to expect a heavy dose of rookie and Taylor Heinicke.

The duo is expected to battle for the backup role, with the No. 8 overall pick the obvious favorite. If Heinicke wins the job, it will worry Atlanta and Penix going forward. Atlanta will see both quarterbacks for the first time this season on Aug. 9 against the Dolphins.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins, August 9, 7:00 p.m. EST Atlanta Falcons vs. Baltimore Ravens, August 17, 12:00 p.m. EST Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons, August 23, 7:00 p.m. EST

While the results don’t matter, this is a great opportunity to evaluate not only the quarterback position, but the other position battles that extend beyond camp. The starters and rotations will give an idea of ​​where each player fits and what the final roster should look like.

This will also be Raheem Morris’ first preseason, which will give us a glimpse into his approach to starting the year. Miami will be particularly interesting to watch as Kirk Cousins ​​is unlikely to be ready to take the field and we should be getting at least half of Penix.

Quarterback John Paddock remains on the roster, but it seems unlikely he’ll get any playing time in a crowded position group. It’s important to note that preseason results should always be taken with a grain of salt, even at quarterback. Desmond Ridder’s strong start last season is a reminder that these games are just glorified dress rehearsals, with every team unwilling to play.